Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2004
50 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the proposed disbandment of the PSNI full time reserve will have security implications for Northern Ireland which may impact upon Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18793/04]
View answerThe phasing out of the full-time reserve is a core recommendation of the Patten report. The PSNI Chief Constable and the Northern Ireland Policing Board devised and agreed a comprehensive human resources strategy in October 2002 which included reference to the full-time reserve. Under the strategy and in the context of a lack of deterioration in the security situation, the full-time reserve is due to be phased out over an 18-month period beginning in April 2005.
In regard to the question of the security implications of the phase out of the reserve, I assure the Deputy that I have every confidence that the Chief Constable and the Northern Ireland Policing Board, in agreeing the human resources strategy, were guided by the overriding need to ensure public safety and security on both parts of this island. Moreover, the Chief Constable stated in January 2003 that the phasing out of the full-time reserve would be subject to a further security review to ensure that the PSNI would not be left short-staffed by the plan to end contract renewals in April 2005. We understand that the review is expected in the autumn. The conclusions of the review will be subject to further discussions between the Chief Constable and the policing board in the context of the human resources strategy.
The Government is conscious that April 2005 also coincides with the expiry of the current mandate of the Patten Oversight Commission. The report of the Oversight Commissioner at this time will serve as an occasion for a fundamental stock-take of the implementation of all of the Patten recommendations, including its recommendation regarding the full-time reserve.
