asked the Minister for Justice if he proposes to implement the recommendations of the report of the Select Committee on Crime, Lawlessness and Vandalism on recruitment and training in the Garda Síochána which was laid before the Dáil in July 1985.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reports on Garda Training.
8.
The report in question and the report of the Committee on Garda Training, to which I referred in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 43 on 9 April 1986, both cover basically the same ground. The recommendations of the two reports are at present under consideration in my Department. As I stated in the earlier reply to which I have referred, it is my hope that it will be possible to implement at least some recommendations in time to benefit the new entrants to the Garda Síochána who will come from the next recruitment competition.
Is the Minister aware that the recommendations of the Select Committee on Crime, Lawlessness and Vandalism are with his Department since July 1985? The House agrees that urgent measures need to be taken in regard to crime and is the Minister saying that he can take no action on the clearcut recommendations of the committee? Some of these measures could be implemented in the short term although others might take longer. I understand that the other committee produced an interim report in December——
I should prefer the Deputy not to make a speech.
I am perfectly well aware that the report of the select committee has been before the House and my Department since July 1985. With the greatest of respect to the committee — I mean that quite sincerely — I should not like Deputy Woods to believe that the recommendations of the committee are the last word on the matter. A number of aspects were not covered in the committee's report, some of which I hope will be covered in the report of the other committee to which Deputy Woods referred. I am perfectly conscious of the need to improve recruitment procedures, initial training and in-service training in the Garda.
Would the Minister consider arranging for the House to debate both of these reports at an early date and, if so, would he consider circulating the report which was not prepared by the select committee?
There are many reports which were not prepared by the select committee but I presume that Deputy Mitchell is referring to the report of the Committee on Garda Training. I have not yet come to a decision regarding the circulation of that report. I do not have the complete interim report. There are some elements of it which I expect to have quite shortly and when I consider the full report I will then decide on how we will go about publication or discussion of the report.
The Minister has the committee's report since July 1985 and the interim report since December——
The Deputy is giving information and that is destroying Question Time.
In the meantime the Minister has been considering whether he should publish the report. Is he not in a position to make a decision in principle to publish the report? There is nothing secret or of a security nature in the report, presumably.
How does the Deputy know that?
The Minister can take those parts out if he wishes.
I should like to congratulate the Deputy on his dexterity in counting. The initial report became available and was submitted to me in December last. Some material was not included in it and I expect to have that shortly. That will complete the first part of that committee's exercise. When I have considered the complete report I will also consider the question of publication.