Vol. 379 No. 6
asked the Minister for Justice if he will make available the findings of the committee which he established to look into the management structures of the Garda Síochána in the aftermath of the kidnap of John O'Grady; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
49.
asked the Minister for Justice if the special report compiled by senior Garda officers following the kidnapping of John O'Grady has identified major operation and management inadequacies in the organisation of the Garda Síochána; if he will indicate the number of recommendations for change made in that report; the nature of such recommendations; whether the implementation of the findings would necessitate additional expenditure in the Garda Síochána; if he intends implementing the findings of this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
43.
asked the Minister for Justice if he has considered the report on Garda reorganisation prepared by the three Assistant Commissioners of the Garda; if it is intended to implement the recommendations of the report; if it is intended to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Priority Questions Nos. 46 and 49 and Question No. 43 together.
I should make it clear at the outset that I did not appoint a committee as indicated by Deputy Barrett in his question. The position is that, during the investigation of the John O'Grady kidnapping last year, certain shortcomings became apparent in the organisational structures of the Garda Síochána and in the planning and execution of operations. The Government decided that the Commissioner should provide a full report on the conduct of that investigation and that there should be a review of the organisation of the force by its top management with a view to remedying these shortcomings. At the request of the Commissioner, that review was carried out by three of the Assistant Commissioners of the force. As I announced last week, the Commissioner has presented to me, his proposals, based on that review, for a reorganisation of structures at Garda headquarters and for changes in practices and procedures in the Dublin Metropolitan Area. I have fully approved those proposals. The following is an outline of the major changes.
The two Deputy Commissioners will be relieved of certain day-to-day headquarters branch responsibilities thus enabling them to concentrate to a greater extent on their roles as senior force managers. They will have responsibility for development of policy and planning with regard to administration and operations respectively and each will have responsibility for the work of three Assistant Commissioners.
A number of changes will be made also in the structure of various headquarters branches. The most significant change is that there will now be a single Crime and Security Branch which will have responsibility for the collation, assessment and recording of all intelligence in relation not just to subversive crime but to ordinary crime as well. Information for all Garda sources will flow into a common intelligence pool for which this branch will be responsible.
There will be a new Force Services Branch dealing with provision of computer, telecommunications and technical services to the force as a whole. There will be a new emphasis in the work of Personnel Branch on the assessment of personnel and on personnel welfare. The Research Section in the force is being strengthened and relocated at Templemore.
The Commissioner's proposals for the Dublin Metropolitan Area are designed to improve performance generally and, in particular, the utilisation of all detective resources. There will be greater co-ordination of activity between the Special Detective Unit and the Central Detective Unit. The new Assistant Commissioner being assigned to the DMA will have as a top priority the improvement of the professionalism of both units. All operational procedures in the DMA will come under scrutiny with the aim of ensuring that as many uniformed members as possible are visible on the streets. The community policing policy will be extended and it is intended to examine the present divisional structure in the DMA with a view, in particular, to having the main city centre area covered by one division, instead of two as at present. The Assistant Commissioner in the DMA will also have a special function in relation to crime prevention, neighbourhood watch and community relations.
The Commissioner has also reported on the John O'Grady kidnapping investigation and that report contains a number of further proposals designed to overcome shortcomings that came to light during the investigation. Overall, procedures with regard to the investigation of kidnappings and other serious crimes are being examined and brought up-to-date and procedures related to the location of checkpoints and cordons and manning of them are being radically reviewed and made the subject of detailed instructions. It is also the Commissioner's intention to hold regular conferences of senior officers to discuss current policing problems. Structures in divisions and districts outside Dublin will also be examined with a view to concentrating Garda resources in the areas of greatest need.
As I have already indicated, I have approved the Commissioner's proposals and he is confident that they will have a significant impact on Garda performance. I am satisfied that the proposals will strengthen the management of the force and that there will be a much greater emphasis on operational policy, on planning and on performance review. The implementation of the Commissioner's proposals has commenced and will be monitored and evaluated closely and carefully to ensure speedy progress and effectiveness. No additional expenditure is envisaged arising out of the implementation of the Commissioner's proposals.
I want to thank the Minister for his reply. Will the Minister not agree that the setting up of this investigation arose as a result of a great deal of concern which was expressed both inside and outside this House by the various representative bodies of the Garda Síochána and by the Minister when he publicly said that he had severe doubts about some of the activities of some members of the Garda Síochána in the course of the O'Grady kidnap affair? Will he not agree that it is only right and proper if he answers us by saying that he intends to carry out an investigation and that we should behave in a responsible manner by staying quiet as a result of that guarantee that we, in turn, should be given a full and comprehensive report on the investigation and the findings into such an investigation? We find ourselves in the position that we are being fobbed off with this promise of an investigation but we will not be able to see the report that is produced. The Minister will agree that a great deal of concern has been expressed by members of the Garda Síochána who are very anxious that the image of the Garda Síochána is maintained but who find that the report of the investigation is not going to be made public?
Please, Deputy Barrett, let us have brief questions.
In reply to Deputy Barrett, I think he is running away with himself somewhat——
I am not running away with myself. You should answer the questions and not try to fob me off again.
I would not try to fob-off the Deputy for the world. I would not try to do anything like that to the Deputy. I want to say to Deputy Barrett that during the investigation of the kidnapping last year certain shortcomings became apparent in the organisational structures of the Garda Síochána and the Government decided that the Commissioner should provide a full report——
The Minister came into this House and gave a——
Please, Deputy Barrett.
He gave a guarantee and the Taoiseach was present when he gave it.
Let me try to answer the Deputy's question, if he wants an answer. I am in injury time.
We should now be dealing with the Order of Business. I want to bring this question to finality very quickly and go on to the Order of Business.
The review of the reorganisational structures of the Garda Síochána was carried out by the Commissioner at the request of the Government. The Garda Commissioner got three of his Assistant Commissioners to do an investigation for him. He submitted a report to me based on their findings which has been accepted in its entirety. I am satisfied that the proposals will strengthen the management of the force, that there will be a much greater emphasis on operational policy and on planning, and of course performance will be reviewed on a regular basis. This a major breakthrough because, for the first time, we have now all information with regard to ordinary and subversive crime coming into a central pool, and we are now satisfied that proper use will be made of that sort of information. That is what we would all like to see, and I wish the Garda well.
I will allow a brief final question from Deputy Barrett.
What I would like to know is what deficiencies were discovered as a result of the investigation and what are the solutions to those deficiencies.
We cannot debate that matter now.
Why did the Government decide to accept a report which they rejected when it first came out?
A Cheann Comhairle——
This is priority time, Deputy Harney.
My question, No. 49, is about the same matter. Why was it that it was the Commissioner's recommendations that were implemented and not those in the report of the findings of the three deputy commissioners who investigated the matter? I understand that what has been implemented is only minor in comparison with what was recommended.
If Deputy Harney is prepared to take the word of some anonymous person outside with regard to what the Commissioner recommended over and above mine I cannot do much to enlighten her. I would clearly say that, based on the review of the structures of the Garda Síochána conducted for the Commissioner by three of his assistant commissioners, and on his analysis of their findings, he submitted a report to me which was accepted in full. Let us lay to rest the speculations on the part of newspapers and others who are mischievously trying to take away from the first major breakthrough in improving Garda structures in a long time.
It is now time to deal with the Order of Business.
On a point of order, I gave you notice of a Private Notice Question to the Taoiseach in his capacity as Minister for the Gaeltacht. The question asked the Taoiseach——
I am sorry, Deputy Higgins. I have given the Deputy my reply on that matter. He knows the reply and he may not raise the matter now.
I would like to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
