I propose to take Questions Nos. 1405 and 1406 together.
As the Deputy is aware 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 (as amended) also provides for the direct recruitment, by way of competition, of members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) into An Garda Síochána at certain senior levels, i.e. Superintendent, Chief Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner.
There is also provision for the limited–term secondment of PSNI officers under certain circumstances.
The recruitment and selection process for these senior positions is undertaken by the Policing Authority.
The Garda authorities have advised that since 2015 a total of 8 former PSNI officers have joined An Garda Síochána of which 1 was promoted (from Superintendent to Chief Superintendent).
The table below sets out the current rank of all former PSNI officers who joined An Garda Síochána in the years between 2015 and 2022 (up to 6 September 2022).
Under the proposed Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, provision is planned for an extension of the eligibility for appointment to other ranks, subject to future Regulations.
Year
|
Rank
|
2015
|
1 Superintendent
|
2017
|
1 Superintendent
|
2018
|
1 Commissioner*, 1 Superintendent
|
2020
|
1 Assistant Commissioner, 1 Superintendent
|
2021
|
1 Superintendent
|
2022
|
1 Assistant Commissioner
|
*Appointed by Government following an open recruitment process.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of secondments to and from the PSNI since 2012. There are currently no secondments to or from the PSNI.
Year
|
AGS to PSNI
|
Duration of secondment
|
PSNI to AGS
|
Duration
|
2012
|
1 Inspector
|
1 month
|
4 Sergeants
|
1 month
|
|
3 Sergeants
|
1 month
|
6 Constables
|
1 month
|
|
5 Gardaí
|
1 month
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013
|
1 Sergeant
|
1 month
|
1 Constable
|
1 month
|
|
4 Gardaí
|
1 month
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2014
|
Nil
|
N/A
|
2 Constables
|
2 weeks
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015
|
3 Sergeants
|
2 Weeks
|
4 Constables
|
2 Weeks
|
|
1 Garda
|
2 Weeks
|
|
|