asked the Minister for Justice the number of visits he has made abroad in connection with the selection of equipment for the Garda Síochána; the dates, destination and the duration of such visits; the cost to the State of each such visit; and whether any items have been purchased as a result of these visits.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers - Garda Equipment.
7.
Mr. Collins
I have made five such visits abroad. These visits were made primarily to examine the types of helicopter and aircraft in use by the police forces in the countries concerned and the purposes for which they were used. The visits were also availed of to examine some general police training facilities and equipment.
The location, date and duration of the visits were as follows:
Amsterdam — 16-17 July, 1980 — 2 days;
Stockholm — 16-17 September, 1980 — 2 days;
Paris — 25-26 September, 1980 — 2 days;
Bonn — 8-10 October, 1980 — 3 days;
Rome — 19-21 January, 1980 — 3 days;
Accounting procedures in relation to the visits have not yet been finalised — some of the accounts have only been furnished to my Department within the past few days — but on the basis of the accounts that have been furnished the estimated cost of the visits is as follows:
Amsterdam — £1,130;
Stockholm — £2,985;
Paris — £2,275;
Bonn — £3,140;
Rome — £995.
These costs do not include any element in respect of the Government transport aircraft which was availed of for the visits.
The purchase of some items of equipment on view during the visits is under examination but no items have been purchased to date.
Is the Minister satisfied that, after joy-riding around Europe with his retinue, he is doing a service to the State to say that after all this time not a single result has appeared from the point of view of additional equipment for the Garda forces?
I reject the charge of joy-riding. I assure the Deputy, if he is interested in assurances, that I had lots of other business to do. These were probably the most important visits made abroad by any Minister for Justice in the history of the State. The fact that I was accompanied by senior police officers who saw new methods, new procedures, new facilities, training, equipment and so on is going to bring about a substantial improvement in the method and organisation and training of the Garda Síochána. These visits will give us a police force in a short period of time which we are going to need.
Does the Minister accept that sending the Commissioner and other police officers on visits abroad would probably have a very beneficial effect on them, but can he explain to the House what benefit it is to the country for the Minister to be travelling around?
Because there are very large sums of public money involved, I will have to recommend to the Government whether or not £X millions or £100s or £1,000s of millions will have to be spent.
The Minister has already committed them.
I have to make that decision, not the Deputy. I am quite satisfied that what I did was correct and proper.