asked the Minister for Justice if he has made any special provision in allowances and conditions of employment for gardaí engaged in special security duties throughout the State.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Allowances and Conditions
18.
I am satisfied that the existing provisions regarding allowances and conditions are adequate to meet the needs of the gardaí on special security duty throughout the State and that these provisions are being applied as required.
Surely the Minister is aware that these special functions now impose quite an exceptional strain on many members of the force which would warrant a review on the Minister's part of the special allowances?
These duties are nothing new to the force. We have had these in connection with other illegal organisations for a considerable time, and there are special allowances payable where the members are transferred to these special duties. These are regarded as adequate and I have had no complaints about them at all.
19.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will ensure that gardaí who are on point-duty are supplied with sufficient protection against the weather elements.
In addition to normal uniform, gardaí on regular point duty are supplied with glazed waterproof coats and pull-ups.
20.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that some members of the Garda Síochána have to do full duty at night without the provision of hot meals; and if he will remedy the position.
The Commissioner, Garda Síochána, informs me that under existing arrangements members on ordinary night duty have facilities for the provision of hot meals. These arrangements also cover the provision of hot meals, so far as possible, in the case of members assigned to special duty.
21.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that there are certain health hazards attached to working in heavy fumes from exhausts of motor vehicles for long periods; and if he will take adequate steps to ensure that members of the Garda Síochána who are allocated to point-duty are regularly examined to ensure that their health does not suffer as a result of the employment which is being allocated to them.
The Commissioner of the Garda Síochána has consulted the Garda Surgeon and is satisfied that the conditions under which gardaí on point duty work are not such as to necessitate special arrangements for medical examination.
Could we have some indication from the Minister when we may expect members of the force to be removed completely from point duty throughout the urban areas? Now that such officers are expensively trained and their conditions of employment have been improved, and will, I hope, be improved even further, would they not be far more effectively employed on other public duty rather than traffic duty?
That is a separate question.