Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:37. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the Policing Reform Implementation Programme Office based in his Department. [45563/22]
View answerDepartmental Bodies
Questions (37)
Written answers
A Policing Service for our Future is the Government’s Plan to implement the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
As recommended in the Commission’s report, implementation of the Plan is being overseen by a dedicated Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach.
The Policing Reform Implementation Programme Office monitors progress on A Policing Service for our Future , and supports the work of the Implementation Group on Policing Reform, which has an independent Chair, Helen Ryan. The Office also keeps the High-Level Steering Board on Policing Reform, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, apprised of progress being made. In addition, progress is reported to the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality, which I chair.
A Policing Service for our Future has been broken down in to four stages of implementation, namely:
1. The Building Blocks Phase;
2. The Launching Phase ;
3. The Scaling Phase; and
4. The Consolidation Phase.
The first three phases of A Policing Service for our Future have been completed and much has been achieved. For example:
- The roll-out of a new Operating Model for An Garda Síochána, designed to streamline Garda administration and to provide a more visible, responsive and localised policing service to communities nationwide is underway;
- The recruitment of nearly 1800 garda staff which has supported the reassignment of many gardaí to frontline policing duties;
- Roll-out of over 5000 digital communication devices enabling front-line gardai to perform their duties without returning to stations;
- An Garda Síochána has established and strengthened resourcing of a Human Rights Unit and re-established the Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee;
- Local Community Safety Partnership Pilots have been established in three locations around the country, in Dublin’s North Inner City, Waterford City and County and Longford County;
- The development by An Garda Síochána of an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Statement, and Action Plan 2020-2021; and
- launch of a three-year Garda Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which will see the introduction of additional health and wellbeing supports.
There has also been progress on legislative reform. The Government has approved the drafting of:
- the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill which provides for the most wide-ranging and coherent reform of policing in a generation;
- the Garda Síochána (Digital Recordings) Bill, which concerns the use of recording devices (including body worn cameras); and
- the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill which brings together and modernises police powers of search, arrest and detention.
The Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Area) Act 2022, which will facilitate the roll out of the new operating model, was brought into law earlier this year.
The future focus of the Programme for the final or Consolidation Phase will be on several key organisational and corporate enablers to assist in achieving a sustainable transformation of policing.
This includes areas such as IT, HR and finance, which are key enablers across the entire reform programme, as well the necessary legislation, Operating Model, Community Safety and Non-Core Duties.
Questions Nos. 38 to 45, inclusive, resubmitted.
Human Rights
Questions (46)
Bernard Durkan
Question:46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach if it has become apparent that the United Nations needs to adopt a more vigorous stance on violations of human rights, hunger, famine and starvation and an immediate response in which aggression is becoming more prevalent on a worldwide basis following his interaction with the United Nations in the context of Ireland's membership of the Security Council. [48273/22]
View answerWritten answers
I visited New York for UN High Level Week from 21-23 September. In delivering Ireland’s National Statement to the General Assembly, I said that all countries, no matter how small, have a contribution to make to international peace and security, and to economic and social development; and that all people have the right to live in dignity; to have their human rights and fundamental freedoms respected. I spoke frankly also about the need for a strengthened and reformed United Nations, one that is not hamstrung by the veto power of a single member state.
I noted, however, that this is not the case for those currently facing hunger and food insecurity, nor for those in Ukraine being bombarded by Russian missiles, nor for many people in Syria, Afghanistan or Palestine. I spoke also of the devastating impacts of climate change, with those who bear least responsibility for its causes often most affected.
Questions Nos. 47 to 79, inclusive, resubmitted.