Vol. 575 No. 3
55 Mr. O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in view of the failure to deliver on the commitment to increase Garda numbers and in view of the recent serious events in Finglas, his plans to deliver on this action. [24143/03]
I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 17 of 19 June 2003. As I stated then, the control and direction of the Garda Síochána, including the allocation of resources, is vested with the Garda Commissioner. I repeat that the Commissioner is the chief of police in Ireland. The allocation of Garda resources is based on a variety of operational demands which includes dealing with drug related offences. Any additional allocation of personnel to specific locations is subject to ongoing operational demands and the overall deployment of Garda personnel. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that since the publication of the national drugs strategy in May 2001, resources in Garda stations covering local drugs task force areas have been monitored. The number of personnel in the stations covering local drugs task force areas increased by 66 between January 2001 and September 2003. The level of Garda resources allocated in these areas continues to be monitored by local Garda management in line with the recommendations of the Garda national drug strategy implementation group.
I happen to have some knowledge of this area. Can the Minister elucidate further regarding policing on the ground? He has indicated that extra gardaí will be provided in the area. Does he believe that adequate gardaí, as opposed to extra gardaí, are available to meet the current requirements? My information suggests that adequate gardaí are not available to meet current requirements, regardless of the extent to which an increase has taken place.
Given that serious organised crime problems exist in that general area, as well in as other parts of Dublin and elsewhere, will the Minister take some initiative? He should avoid clarifying that there is a distinction between the chief of police and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Minister has made clear that he receives advice from the chief of police. At what stage will he take initiatives in respect of these matters?
A considerable amount of resources has been supplied to support the gardaí in the particular area with which we are dealing. The House is well acquainted with the problems which gave rise to the need to provide such resources. I do not want to comment on the exact number of persons who have been deployed or the exact nature of their deployment. A threat emerged as a result of the use of firearms, the incidence of intimidation and the activities of a small number of people in the area in question. The Garda is quite satisfied that it is making very significant progress in its extensive investigations into the activities of those I have mentioned. Extra resources were drafted in as a result of the problems I have mentioned.
I spoke recently to Mr. Carty, assistant commissioner of the Garda Síochána, about Finglas Garda station. He said that he is not satisfied with the fabric and the suitability of the building. We have to examine all means of providing Finglas with a decent Garda station. A number of possibilities are being considered closely in that regard. The exact deployment of resources between Finglas Garda station and neighbouring Garda stations is a matter for the local Garda management, taking into account such issues as accommodation and facilities.
I share Deputy Durkan's concern about the Finglas area. Although I have been briefed about the response being made by the Garda, it would not be appropriate, in these circumstances, for me to make public the exact detail of the response. There is a significant response to the problems that have emerged in the area in question. The Garda Síochána has briefed me regularly on its response.
I am not the chief of police and my function does not involve deciding that 20 gardaí should be moved from one place to another, or that five gardaí should be moved from one station to another. The reason I do not have such a function is very straightforward. The Garda Síochána is a disciplined force directed by an independent Commissioner. He reports to me and I report, in turn, to this House. We have a good and close working relationship. Very serious civil liberties or constitutional issues would be at stake if I became responsible for making decisions about the security of individuals, moving gardaí from one station to another, or giving the Commissioner direct day-to-day instructions on the micro-management of the resources which this House is making available to him. Deputy Durkan would not be the last person to point out such issues to me.
I wish to ask one short question.
I will allow a very brief question.
Notwithstanding the Minister's reply, can he indicate if he agrees that one must deal with issues as they arise in certain circumstances? I accept that there is a need to protect the civil liberties of the people as a whole, but there is also a need to protect the civil liberties of law-abiding citizens. Certain acts are being committed on the watch of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. What does he propose to do, with or without the interaction that should take place, if the actions we have seen in recent times continue?
I will allow Deputies Deasy and Costello to speak before the Minister replies.
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Press reports have suggested that 980 gardaí are taking the pre-retirement course. This is a worrying statistic when one considers that no more than 670 recruits can graduate from the training college at Templemore each year. Can the Minister respond to that figure? What steps are being taken to do something about the high retirement rate within the force?
The Minister referred to Finglas Garda station, which is in very bad order. Reports in today's newspapers indicate that there have been more deaths this year in the Finglas area than in the Limerick area. Gardaí have to go to Blanchardstown to speak to suspects as they cannot conduct interviews in the station. What are the Minister's proposals for dealing urgently with the matter?
It was true that one could not conduct an interview in the Garda station in question at the time of an incident which was the subject of a recent court case, but I think that is no longer the case. I understand that video facilities are now available – I hope I am correct in saying that.
I am not referring just to video facilities.
I accept the Deputy's point that the Garda station in Finglas is unsatisfactory and needs to be refurbished, replaced or rebuilt. In response to Deputy Deasy, who raised the issue of Garda retirements, members of the Garda Síochána are free to choose when to leave the force, having completed their minimum service for pension entitlements. Those who have served for 30 years are free to remain in the force until the age of 57. I am not in a position to click my fingers to put in place one pattern of retirement rather than another. That is their free choice and is the contract they entered into with the State. In the next few weeks, an additional class from Templemore will graduate and be fully attested. In those circumstances, for the first time in the history of this State, the strength of the Garda Síochána will exceed 12,000.
On Deputy Durkan's point, I agree there are occasions on which we must respond but neither I nor the Commissioner announce the responses in public. We do not give to the people to whom we are responding and to whom we are facing up the advantage of knowing, in exact detail, what we are doing. The Commissioner informed me that there has been a considerable allocation of resources in this particular area. He has given me an outline of what is involved and I am satisfied that his decision in the matter is correct. I fully support him in how he is deploying members of the Garda Síochána.
