asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern among members of the Garda Síochána that the recently launched uniforms are being imitated and copied by security men; if this matter has been brought to his attention by the Garda Representative Association; if his attention has been further drawn to the inherent dangers of similar type uniforms being worn by people other than the Garda Síochána; and if so, the action, if any, he intends to take on the matter.
Written Answers. - Garda Uniforms.
78.
The question of the wearing of uniforms resembling the Garda uniform by personnel of other organisations has been raised by the Garda Representative Association.
There is a legal provision for the protection of the Garda uniform in section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act, 1924, which prohibits the wearing of any colourable imitation of that uniform. It has been represented to me that this provision may be inadequate and the matter is at present the subject of consultations between my Department, the Attorney General's Office and the Garda authorities. Pending the completion of these consultations, I am not in a position to say what action, if any, is likely to be taken.