asked the Minister for Justice if he will establish an independent police authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
36.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Independent Police Authority.
32.
asked the Minister for Justice if, as a matter of urgency, he will undertake to reform fundamentally the structure, organisation and management of the Garda Síochána so that they can respond more efficiently to crime; and in this regard if he will also establish an independent police authority.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 32 and Priority Question No. 36 together.
As I indicated in reply to a parliamentary question on 13 May 1987 it is my intention, before commencing a review of Garda matters of the kind referred to in the Programme for Government, to have discussions with the Garda Commissioner and with all the Garda representative associations as to the precise form such a review might take. The report which the commissioner has been requested to make to the Government in the aftermath of the recent kidnapping investigation will also have a bearing on the matter. As I indicated in an Adjournment Debate on security matters on 10 November, the Government will consider this report before deciding on any action that may be called for in relation to the Garda Síochána.
As regards a police authority, there can be no question of allowing any form of independent body to take over responsibility for the Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána will have to remain answerable to the Dáil through the Minister for Justice and the Government.
Is it the case that since May last when the Minister gave similar answers to similar question he has not yet had discussions with the Garda representative bodies about these matters?
I outlined clearly in my initial reply what my intentions are. I have had informal discussions with the present Garda Commissioner and his predecessor, and I will be in a position to have further discussions as soon as I receive proposals and suggestions and when consideration has been given to them. It is also important that the Deputy recognise that the report which the Government sought in connection with the recent kidnapping investigation will also have a bearing on the matter when recommendations are being made to the Government.
It is pretty awful that in seven months the Minister has not had an opportunity to meet these associations. If he was serious about changing the structures, particularly the management structure, in the force he would have met them by now. Would the Minister agree given that next year the Garda Síochána will cost £273 million to run, it is now time that the archaic procedures under which they operate should be up-dated as a matter of urgency to allow the Garda Síochána to operate more efficiently and in a more cost-effective manner? Secondly, would the Minister also agree that it is time to remove once and for all from the taint of political interference the appointment procedure for senior Garda officers?
The Government are very concerned, having regard to their programme for the election and commitments contained therein, that the structures of the Garda Síochána be examined to see if they can be made more efficient. The Government will be giving this matter very serious consideration and when they are in a position to make an announcement on their intentions I will gladly tell the House what the position is.
Would the Minister consider making public the Stokes Kennedy Crowley report on the management structure within the Garda Síochána? A lot of public money was spent in compiling this report. It has not even been made public, never mind put in place. Secondly, would the Minister agree that the military lines along which the Garda Síochána are organised are not appropriate to the 1980s?
The Stokes Kennedy Crowley report to which the Deputy refers was submitted to the Minister of the day in 1976. At that time it was clearly indicated to all members of the force who were asked to give their views and comments to the Stokes Kennedy Crowley team that they were doing so in confidence and that the report would not be published.
The recommendations.
I am not sure whether at this stage that something which was looked at 12 years ago would be of great value to us at present but I and I think everybody in this House would take the Deputies point, in that there is a need for a long hard look on how the Garda Síochána can best be organised and fitted out for the purposes of dealing with the situation as we find it in 1987.
Could I ask the Minister——
In respect of priority questions the Standing Order states that only the person who tables a question may put a supplementary. I am sorry to disappoint the Deputy. We will now proceed to Question No. 37 in the name of Deputy Seán Barrett.