asked the Minister for Justice what provisions, if any, exist for compensating members of the Garda Síochána in cases where injury results from assault suffered in the course of duty.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Assaults on Gardaí.
52.
The Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act, 1941, provides that members of the Force who receive injuries of a major character may apply for compensation to the High Court. The Act also provides that injuries of a minor character sustained in the performance of duty involving special risk may be compensated by the Minister by the payment of a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds.
In addition to the provisions of the Act mentioned, members injured on duty receive full pay in respect of any period of incapacity, and all medical and hospital expenses, and the cost of damage to personal property, are defrayed from public funds.
Would the Minister tell us whether if a member of the public went to the aid of a garda and was injured while helping to bring in a wrongdoer, there is any provision to compensate that member of the public.
Surely it is a separate matter.
It is, but I shall deal with it. At the present time we make an ex gratia payment to a person injured while assisting a garda in the course of his duties. We have got a report to hand from an inter-departmental committee suggesting that compensation be paid to such a member of the public as a matter of legal right. That report will be considered and legislation introduced to make it a legal right instead of an ex gratia payment.
I am grateful to the Minister.
53.
asked the Minister for Justice with reference to replies of 18th May last, if he is aware that a member of the Garda Síochána in the City of Dublin has again been assaulted and injured; what precautions will now be taken to protect and assist Gardaí who are so exposed to the risk of personal injury when they carry out their duties; and if he will make a statement generally on the matter.
The Garda in question was off-duty and in civilian attire on the occasion of this second attack and accordingly the incident, deplorable as it was, is not really relevant to the question of the protection of members on duty.
On this latter question, as I have already explained, all reasonable precautions are already being taken. It is impossible to guard against occasional incidents even if we were to go to the extreme of putting two men on every beat.