Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023
398. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to make provision for those serving as PSNI officers, constables and those at detective level to transfer directly into the Garda trainee programme in view of the fact they have completed a recruitment competition and basic police training in Northern Ireland. [46485/23]
View answerCurrently, admission to the Garda trainee programme is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 (as amended). The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended a variety of entry pathways to An Garda Síochána.
One of the recommendations was that police officers applying to transfer to An Garda Síochána should be allowed to do so, after due process of interviews and references. They also recommended that police officers should not be required to undertake the full recruit training, but should instead have an intensive induction course to cover Irish government, laws and practices that may differ from other jurisdictions. These recommendations are still being considered.
Section 50 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill deals with the appointment of persons to ranks below the rank of Chief Superintendent. This section provides that the Garda Commissioner may appoint, in accordance with regulations, persons to any rank below the rank of Chief Superintendent.
The broad nature of this provision is intended to facilitate, through regulations, the implementation of a number of recommendations contained in the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report. These relate to direct entry routes into An Garda Síochána, at appropriate levels, for suitable candidates with experience from outside of the policing sphere or with relevant policing experience in other jurisdictions. In relation to the Deputy’s question, this would include members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
