Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
495. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the procedures and mechanism for persons with policing experience and qualifications gained in another jurisdiction, that is, another policing service or in Northern Ireland that can enable them to transfer into An Garda Síochána at officer level and detective level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3362/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013. There are a number of routes under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 through which individuals with policing experience and qualifications gained in another jurisdiction may join the organisation.
Current legislation provides that nationals of an EU Member State, an EEA State, the United Kingdom or the Swiss Confederation are eligible to apply to join An Garda Síochána as recruits, or to join the Garda Reserve, through the normal competitions.
The Garda Síochána Act 2005 also provides for the direct recruitment, by way of open competition, of members of the PSNI into An Garda Síochána at certain senior levels, i.e. Superintendent, Chief Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner.
The Deputy may also wish to note that arrangements are in place to allow for the secondment of officers from the PSNI to certain ranks in An Garda Síochána for a period not exceeding 3 years. The Inter-Governmental Agreement on Police Co-operation obliged both Governments to introduce the necessary administrative and legislative measures to provide for exchanges, secondments and appointments between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI. Sections 52 - 54 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 gives effect to these obligations. Protocols are in place between the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI which provide for the implementation of a programme of personnel exchanges and secondments between the two police services.
As the Deputy will be aware, in December 2018 the Government endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and the report is now being implemented in accordance with the targets and timelines set out A Policing Service for our Future .
Among the issues highlighted in the report was that An Garda Síochána should reflect the diversity of Irish society and should therefore develop recruitment strategies to achieve a more diverse intake. An Expert Review Group was established under the remit of the Garda Commissioner to examine the issues of Garda recruitment, recruit education, entry pathways, and learning and development. This review was a commitment under A Policing Service for our Future . The report of the Expert Review Group is currently being considered by the Garda Commissioner.
