Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 3

Written Answers. - Garda Overtime.

Máirín Quill

Question:

61 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Justice the number of man hours in overtime that are accounted for by the presence of members of the Garda Siochána to give evidence in civil litigation for personal injuries; the estimated cost per year to the Department of Justice for time off for members of the Garda giving such evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2023/94]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

Records are not kept in such a way as to allow the annual number of hours and cost of Garda attendance in court as witnesses in civil actions to be estimated without diverting gardaí and staff of my Department from other more pressing duties.

Gardaí attending court in their official capacity as witnesses in a civil case are deemed to be on duty and, accordingly, have an entitlement to their pay in respect of such attendance in accordance with the terms and conditions of their employment. Persons attending court as witnesses are entitled only to compensation in respect of actual loss of earnings or expenses incurred in attending. Additional costs arising where gardaí attend court in such cases, i.e. travel and subsistence expenses, are borne by the litigants.