Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Feb 1999

Vol. 499 No. 5

Written Answers. - Garda Communications.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

46 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, taken to ensure the security of Garda radio messages in view of reports that those involved in the recent armed raid in Dalkey, County Dublin, were in possession of scanners which enabled them to intercept Garda communications; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these scanners are widely available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3044/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The ability of persons to monitor Garda radio communications by means of scanners and similar devices has been a security concern of the Garda Síochána for some time.

The current Garda radio network is not one, single integrated system but rather a number of distinct radio communications systems that are interlinked to varying degrees. They can be categorised into four broad system types: the "provincial system", i.e., the system used outside Dublin; the Dublin metropolitan area system; the Cork system; and special services systems for national organised groups.

Of these four, only the Cork system and the special services systems offer the Garda Síochána secure, encrypted radio communications.

However, as the special services systems are based only on ad hoc systems rather than network arrangements, the only part of the radio network that offers secure communications is the Cork system, primarily because, during the preparation of its specification, the requirement for encryption was included from the start. However, even here, because the transmission system in use by the Garda Síochána is based on analogue technology, encryption on the Cork system has resulted in some, foreseen degradation in voice quality.

As a consequence, providing secure radio communications for the force in effect means providing encrypted radio communications. From a technical perspective, the current Garda radio network, based as it is on analogue technology, does not provide a ready means of encrypting Garda communications. Hence, it is necessary, to all practical intents, to have in place a digital system of radio communications before encryption and, hence, security can be made readily available.

With this and other considerations in mind, I recently secured the approval of the Government to replace the existing Garda radio network with a new digital system. The new system is not only based on digital technology but, more than this, it is based on the TETRA standard. TETRA, which is an acronym for Terrestral Trunked Radio, was developed as a standard under a mandate from the European Commission and uses some of the technologies developed for GSM mobile phone systems, but enhanced to meet the requirements of emergency services.

Hence, the new Garda radio network will not only provide secure communications on a nation-wide basis, but will have at its core a standard developed specifically for public safety organisations.

I would also like to point out that the new digital network will offer a number of other significant operational benefits to the Garda Síochána. For example, the centralisation of the Garda call-taking and dispatch function that will be facilitated by the new digital network will greatly reduce the manpower and other resources necessary to respond to calls for service. This, of course, will have the corresponding benefit of allowing a more dynamic and responsive deployment of Garda resources to areas of most need in the community.

Other note-worthy advantages of the new network will be a reduction in time-consuming manual procedures, such as recording on paper alarm activation outcomes, as well as enabling enhanced information capture arising from the more focused training of Garda personnel in any centralised system of call taking and dispatch. Moreover, the greater quantity and quality of management information generated by the new TETRA network will provide Garda management with an enhanced overview and correspondingly greater level of control over operations.

In sum, the new digital system will allow the Garda Síochána to impart a more professional and proficient service to the general public. Indeed, such are the benefits of TETRA-based systems that I understand that many of the main European police forces plan to replace their existing radio communications network with TETRA-based systems in the coming few years, and so the Garda Síochána will be at the forefront of exploiting this new technology. The new Garda radio network will be introduced on a phased basis over the period 2000 to 2003, at an estimated cost of £75 to £85 million. To facilitate this ambitious replacement programme, a pilot trial of the new TETRA technology will commence this year, and the lessons learned will be usefully applied in the national replacement programme.

It is anticipated, therefore, that the Garda Síochána will enjoy secure, encrypted communications on an incremental basis over the next four years or so, culminating in a fully secure, integrated and nation-wide system of radio communications by the end of the year 2003.