Vol. 431 No. 3
112 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of drug seizures made by Gardaí in Athlone, County Westmeath in each of the last four years; the number of prosecutions arising from these seizures; the way in which these numbers compare with provincial towns of a similar size; her views on the need to appoint Gardaí on full-time drug surveillance duties in Athlone; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to seizures and prosecutions for drug related crimes in the Athlone Garda District in each of the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 is set out below.
|
Year |
No. of seizures |
No. of prosecutions |
|
1989 |
1 |
2 |
|
1990 |
15 |
15 |
|
1991 |
9 |
12 |
113 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if recent events (details supplied) within the Garda Representative Association were of concern to her; if they affected any aspects of policing; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no evidence to suggest that the recent events referred to in the question had an adverse effect on any aspect of policing.
114 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if she will substantiate the claim that the rate of absenteeism in the Garda Síochána for all ranks is too high; the way in which the figure for absenteeism for 1992 compares with that for the years 1982 and 1972; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My recent remarks in relation to absenteeism in the Garda Síochána in an interview for the magazine Garda Review attracted considerable media attention. They were also misrepresented. The purpose of my remarks was not to exaggerate the extent of the problem, as has been suggested. Rather if was to highlight the complementary roles of Garda Management and the Employee Assistance scheme in dealing with the causes of absenteeism and to stress the effects that certain causes of absenteeism have on the families of those affected.
I did not set out to compare the level of absenteeism in the Garda Síochána with that in other areas of the public or private sector, I was simply making the point that the level of absenteeism struck me, as sombody coming afresh to the situation, as significant: that there were certain contributory factors and that it is an issue which certainly deserves attention. To put this into context, the average level of absenteeism in 1991 was approximately 10.84 days per member of the Force. While comparable figures for 1982 and 1972 are not available, I understand from the Garda authorities that preliminary figures for 1992 indicate a reduction on the total level of absenteeism. This may show that measures introduced to deal with the matter are having positive results.
The Deputy will appreciate that as Minister for Justice, I should be concerned about the negative impact which absenteeism has on policing.
115 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Justice if any prosecutions were taken against licensed moneylenders in Cork during 1992 for breaches under the Act; if so, the number of such prosecutions; the way in which the figure compares with each of the years from 1989 to 1991; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
There were no prosecutions of licensed moneylenders in Cork for breaches of the provisions of the Moneylenders Acts in the years 1989 to 1992 inclusive.
