asked the Minister for Justice whether instructions were issued as to the use of squad cars located in country towns; and if so, if he will state them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Instructions for Use of Squad Cars.
asked the Minister for Justice whether squad cars operating from country towns are being used primarily to carry out inspections of public houses; and if instructions will be issued that the cars are not to be used for this purpose in future.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.
Squad cars are made available to the Garda Síochána for police purposes generally. Instructions as to ways in which they might usefully be used have been issued by the commissioner, but these instructions, like other instructions to the force, are confidential and are not for publication.
Squad cars are not being used primarily to carry out inspections of public houses. They are of course used for that purpose as well as others. I see no reason whatsoever why they should not be so used and I do not propose to intervene.
Would the Minister check on the accuracy of the assertion I make with a full sense of responsibility as implied in the question I have put down, that these squad cars are being used unduly to annoy publicans throughout the country?
That is not so.
I am asking the Minister if he will check on the assertion I make that it is so.