asked the Minister for Justice the steps he has taken to implement his plan to introduce a police authority; and the measures he has taken to introduce devolved management within the Garda Siochána.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Police Authority.
20.
(Limerick East): To date a considerable degree of initial discussion and fact-finding has taken place in regard to the type of police authority that will best suit our requirements. The matter is being actively pursued.
As regards the second part of the question, the statutory position is that the day-to-day running of the Garda Siochána, which would include matters relating to systems of internal management, is the responsibility of the Commissioner.
The Minister has been over three years in office now. Does he intend to go ahead with this proposal to establish a policy authority?
(Limerick East): Yes, my intention is to do that in the order of priority which I am operating. The Deputy is probably aware that I have seven individual Bills before this House at the moment.
Can the Minister give any indication of when such a proposal might come before the House?
(Limerick East): Not at the moment. However, as the Deputy said, I am three years in office. I hope to have another two years in office and we will have legislation put through both Houses of the Oireachtas and a police authority set up.
Has the Minister considered the desirability of regionalisation within the Garda Siochána? Can he tell us his views on that proposal?
(Limerick East): The statutory position about devolved management within the Garda Siochána is that it is a matter for the internal management of the police within the responsibility of the Commissioner. The Deputy is quite aware that Garda divisions all around the country are being run by chief superintendents, so there is devolved management already.
Then, has the Minister no proposals in the short term to look at the management structure within the Garda?
(Limerick East): I am sure if the Commissioner has proposals about devolved management other than the devolved management, which is there already, where management is devolved right down into the country village where the sergeant has devolved functions or into the division where the chief superintendent has functions, he will consult me in the normal way. He has not yet consulted me about regionalisation.