Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 November 2023
248. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if, in the context of section 50 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023, persons below the rank of chief superintendent can be appointed and or seconded to An Garda Síochána from other police services outside of this jurisdiction. [51776/23]
View answer249. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update in respect of permitting police officers from other jurisdictions to transfer to An Garda Síochána at and below inspector rank. [51777/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together.
Currently, admission to the Garda trainee programme is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 (as amended), appointment to the rank of Inspector and Sergeant is governed by the Garda Síochána (Appointment to the Ranks of Inspector and Sergeant) Regulations 2021 and to the rank of Assistant Commissioner, Chief Superintendent and Superintendent by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Appointments to the ranks of Assistant Garda Commissioner, chief superintendent and superintendent) Regulations 2016. 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 made under section 254 of the Bill, persons to any rank below the rank of Chief Superintendent. In the context of the Deputy's question, these provisions will include the ranks of Garda, Sergeant and Inspector. The broad nature of this provision is intended to facilitate 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.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Act 2005 already allows for the recruitment to An Garda Síochána of officers from other police services, including in particular, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and this will continue to be the case until new regulations to give effect to the CoFPI recommendations are made.
