asked the Minister for Justice if, as an added tourist attraction, he will consider the restoration of the Garda band; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Band Restoration.
25.
The re-establishment of the Garda Band was one of the recommendations of the Conroy Commission. The matter will be considered as soon as the more important recommendations of the commission have been dealt with, having regard to the views of the Garda Representative Bodies as to priorities.
In view of the fact that a number of these men are on the eve of leaving the force would he treat this matter with a certain amount of urgency lest they leave the force before the decision is finally taken to re-establish them?
As I explained to Deputy Tully yesterday, there are a small number of outstanding recommendations of the Conroy Commission and some months ago my Department discussed these matters at the conciliation council and asked the representative bodies to place them in the order of priority in which they wanted them discussed because the representative bodies have neither the time nor the personnel to spend long hours discussing these matters. The representative bodies did that and the question of the re-establishment of the band was put by them at the end. I have had no notice of intention to put it any higher.
Possibly the representative body—they are excellent men— would not have the same regard for the Garda Band as the Minister and Members of this House have.
That may be.