Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
196. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí on secondment and exchange programmes with foreign police services; and the jurisdictions in which they are currently operating. [20465/17]
View answer197. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of officers from foreign police forces currently on secondment or exchange here with An Garda Síochána and their jurisdictions of origin. [20466/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
An Garda Síochána maintains close liaison with other law enforcement agencies internationally and the work of Garda liaison officers who are permanently based in other jurisdictions and in international bodies such as Interpol and Europol, greatly facilitate the prompt exchange of information and intelligence on criminal activity. Such international liaison has led to many parallel investigations with international law enforcement agencies.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are no members of other police forces currently on secondment to or on exchange with An Garda Síochána.
I am further informed by the Commissioner that the number of Gardaí on international duty and the numbers of Garda liaison officers based in other jurisdictions, Europol and Interpol as of 31 March 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, are as set out in the following tables.
|
Gardaí on International Duty as at 31 March 2017 |
|
|
Location |
Total |
|
UNFICYP-Cyprus |
12 |
|
EULEX- Kosovo |
6 |
|
Overall Total |
18 |
|
Garda Liaison Officers |
|
|
Locations |
Total |
|
The Hague |
1 |
|
London |
1 |
|
Madrid |
1 |
|
Paris |
1 |
|
Lisbon |
1 |
|
Total |
5 |
|
Europol Headquarters |
|
|
The Hague |
1 |
|
Total |
1 |
|
Interpol Headquarters |
|
|
Lyon |
1 |
|
Total |
1 |
|
Overall Total |
7 |
