andMr. Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice why gardaí are being transferred from Border counties in increasing numbers and replaced by colleagues.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Transfers.
20.
The vast majority of the members of the force who are transferred from Border counties are members who have been assigned to these counties on a temporary basis and who apply for a re-transfer after completing a minimum period of service. I understand that of the 110 members who were transferred since 1st January, 1976, 86 were transferred at their own request.
Is the Minister aware that the perturbing feature of this is that, over the years while he has been in office, men have been sent from down the country up to the Border? There have been a number recently shifted who had settled in there and who did not wish to move, did not request it, did nothing that should have induced the powers that be to so shift them. It would seem to indicate that Big Brother is somewhere around watching what is going on and that it is on unfounded reports, or certainly reports that are not capable of being shown the light of day, that some of these transfers have been made. This is the general picture whether the Minister accepts it or not.
I think the Deputy is giving an exaggerated view of the consequences of transfers. It is one of the exigencies of service in a force such as the Garda Síochána that members are liable to be transferred. When that liability falls on a member who is not anxious to be transferred, but in connection with whom there may be good reasons arising out of the exigencies of the service why he should be transferred, he is going to feel aggrieved. Unfortunately this is something that is part and parcel of a force with the responsibility and makeup of the Garda Síochána. I would be anxious that as far as possible such grievances would be kept to the bare minimum and even removed altogether so that members would be satisfied that they are being transferred properly.
This is what I would expect any Minister for Justice to feel about the matter. Allowing that there may be some exaggerations, as the Minister had suggested, I still ask him to take particular note of what I have said in regard to a number of people being transferred from an area into one which it has not always been attractive for members to be sent and that there does not seem to be, nor have there been given in certain instances, any particular reasons. We know that Gardaí are recruited on the basis that they are subject to transfer, but they are not transferred for nothing.
I appreciate Deputy Blaney's concern for the force but he can be assured that I share it. The question of transfers and some other matters have been the subject of recent discussions between myself, the Garda Representative Bodies and the Garda authorities. I can assure the Deputy that steps are in the course of being taken which will meet many of the views he has expressed.
Question No. 21 is for written answer.