asked the Minister for Justice if he will amend the regulations in respect of Garda recruiting so that suitable applicants who are native Irish speakers and come from homes in which the language is traditionally used may be eligible to be recruited if not more than one inch below the present height requirements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Recruitment.
Mr. Boland
I do not propose toamend the Garda Síochána (Appointment) Regulations to comply with the Deputy's request. The minimum height for recruits as prescribed by the regulations is 5 ft. 9 in. To accept candidates of lower stature would impair the general efficiency of the Force.
Would the Minister say in what way it would impair the standard of efficiency of the Force to accept from the Gaeltacht people of 5 ft. 8 in. or 5 ft. 8½ in.?
Mr. Boland
I think the small policeman would not be seen in a crowd, first of all, and I am also aware that in the Gaeltacht there are plenty of big people well over 5 ft. in height. The Deputy will agree that, although there are good goods in small parcels, a big policeman is more useful than a small one.
Does the Minister not consider that it is time to review the position with regard both to the Gaeltacht and to the Garda? Is he not aware that in some of the Irish-speaking districts that are wasting away, where the population is reducing, there are still large families of character and ability that are carrying on the language traditionally spoken back through the ages and that there are young people there of 5 ft. 8 in, and 5 ft. 8½ in. who are now being driven to emigrate simply because the Garda will not be open to them in a way that would be very reasonable? I would appeal to the Minister and his colleagues to review that situation. It is rather heart-breaking to see in a family in an Irish-speaking district a young fellow of 5 ft. 8½ in. who is condemned to emigrate simply because it would "impair the efficiency of the Garda" if he entered when ½ in. less than the standard. I would ask the Minister how many members of the Garda at the present time are less than 5 ft. 9 in.
Mr. Boland
I could not answer that. Under the regulations up to the last time Gardaí were recruited, every one of the applicants under 5 ft. 10 in. was rejected. This time it is 5 ft.9 in. I think 5 ft. 9 in. ought to be the lowest for a Garda. I am quite certain that in the Gaeltacht areas there are plenty of people well over 5 ft. 9 in. Everyone who wishes to be a Guard could hardly expect to be a Guard, but anyone knows that in the Gaeltacht generally they are big people and that there is no scarcity of big men.
Would the Minister not agree that in modern developments it is a matter of brain against brain and not brawn against brawn?
Mr. Boland
I am a small man myself but I would say a man of my height would not be good enough for the Guards.
Would the Minister undertake, in consultation with his colleagues concerned with the western position, western prosperity and western employment, to consider or examine the whole question?
May I ask the Minister is it because it is brain against brain that Deputy Cowan was not accepted in the Fianna Fáil organisation?
Mr. Boland
You were thrown out of it. That is the answer to that.
And a good riddance.