Vol. 475 No. 6
14 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Justice the number of women recruited to the Garda Síochána in each of the years from 1994 to 1996; and if she has satisfied herself that sufficient numbers of women have been recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5430/97]
The number of women recruited to the Garda Síochána in the period 1994 to 1996 is as follows: 1994, 112; 1995, 69; 1996, 90.
Admission to the Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and is governed by the provisions of the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations, 1988. Article 9 of those regulations requires the Commissioner, in conformity with employment equality legislation, to assess, in relation to each recruitment competition — or intake from each competition — for Garda trainees, the requirements of the force as regards certain specific posts. This includes posts required to be filled by persons of a particular sex by reason of the nature of the duties of those posts, in particular where such duties necessitate the carrying out of personal searches or the interviewing of persons in connection with the investigation of sexual offences. In practice, the gender profiles of student intakes to the Garda college is such that the number of male and female gardaí available to meet these specific requirements is more than adequate.
Recruitment to the Garda Síochána is by means of an open competition conducted by the Civil Service Commission on behalf of the Garda authorities. The Commission is an independent statutory body and candidates are selected on merit. Both the Commission and the Garda authorities are committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment. I might add that the selection procedures for Garda recruitment will be reviewed prior to the next Garda recruitment competition. An assessment of procedures in relation to equal treatment for candidates of both sexes will, of course, be an important aspect of that review.
