Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004
359 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of serving peace commissioners in the State; the number in Dublin postal districts 1, 3 and 7; the procedure by which a peace commissioner is appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14093/04]
View answerSome 6,840 peace commissioners are entered on the current roll of peace commissioners. The roll is appointment based and there is no statutory retirement age for peace commissioners. For that reason, and because my Department relies on the peace commissioners and other interested parties to advise of changes which occur subsequent to appointment, the roll is not automatically updated to take account of changes of address, availability or status as they occur. Peace Commissioner records are also maintained by reference to the Garda administrative areas in which peace commissioners reside. Some 146 peace commissioners are entered on the current roll of peace commissioners for the areas served by Garda stations located in Dublin postal districts 1, 3 and 7.
Peace Commissioners are appointed under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The office of peace commissioner is an honorary appointment and peace commissioners receive no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses for their services. An application for appointment may be submitted by a person who is interested in obtaining an appointment or a third party may submit a nomination in respect of a person considered suitable for appointment. Nominations are generally received from public representatives. A local Garda superintendent sometimes requests an appointment in a particular area in the public interest.
There is no qualifying examination involved but appointees are required to be of good character and are usually well established in the local community. Persons who are members of professions or employed in occupations which engage in legal work or related activities and members of the clergy are, as a matter of practice, not appointed because of their occupation and civil servants are usually only appointed where the performance of their official duties requires an ex officio appointment. Persons convicted of serious offences are considered unsuitable for appointment. The fact that an applicant or nominee may be suitable for appointment does not in itself provide any entitlement to appointment because appointments are made at the discretion of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and having regard to the needs of particular areas.
