asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the discontent in the Garda Force over promotion during the past few years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Promotion.
12.
The Commissioner has informed me that he is not aware of any discontent in the Force regarding promotion during the past few years.
The methods of promotion are printed in the Garda Code and seem to have general acceptance within the Force as giving fair play generally. No doubt, there are some dissatisfied members in a body of this size. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind and if he communicates particulars to me I would have it examined by the Commissioner.
Surely the Minister is aware that, for political reasons, certain friends of the ex-Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries have been promoted during the past few years over the heads of much more deserving colleagues?
That is not so.
That certainly is so and I wonder if the Minister would consider holding an investigation in order to satisfy himself that those friends of the ex-Minister cannot harm the security of the State? Further, I would like to ask the Minister if he would ensure that law and order is enforced so that we do not have the drift towards anarchy that we have today.
That is a separate matter.
It has already been pointed out to the Deputy in this House that he is one of the people who could contribute principally towards a drift to anarchy.
(Interruptions.)
That has been proved to be untrue.
Is the Minister not aware that the drift towards anarchy was part of a planned campaign?
There was nothing about anarchy in the question which relates to promotion within the Garda force.
Further, is the Minister not aware that when members of the Special Branch went to Mullingar recently to investigate a particular case they were shown the business end of a sub-machine gun so that they had to clear away very quickly?
That has nothing to do with the question.
In view of the large number of Garda stations that have been closed all over the country and since a division has been almost completely wiped out in the southern part of the country because of these closures, would the Minister not agree that there are fewer garda sergeants promoted, that there are fewer opportunities up along the line, and this militates against the guards' chances of promotion? Would the Minister agree with this?
No. I would not agree there are fewer chances of promotion for the reasons stated by the Deputy. In fact there has been a smaller number of promotions for the last couple of years than has been customary up to this, but the reason for that is that the original intake into the Garda Síochána all retired more or less around the same time and that over the past two or three years most of the senior posts are held by much younger men. Therefore there are not as many retirements as there were up to then and as a result there are not as many promotions.
Would the Minister arrange as soon as possible, if he has not done so already, a meeting with the Garda Representative Body to discuss with them any basis of discontent that exists in the force at the present time?
And it does exist.
I will meet a deputation from the Joint Representative Body in the course of my duties, if that is their wish.
Would the Minister confirm there are an increasingly large number of gardaí who have passed examinations which would qualify them for promotion to the rank of sergeant but they are not able to get these appointments and this is causing considerable discontent?
The reason there are fewer vacancies for sergeants is that the existing sergeants are in many cases well below the retirement age and, as a result, the vacancies are not occurring with the same frequency as they did five years ago.
Will the Minister give an assurance to the House that there will be the same number of ranks at garda stations as there have been in the past couple of years and that the same number of people in the ranks up along will be maintained at the level that existed a few years ago?
I could not give a blanket assurance of that kind but, generally speaking, the closing of Garda stations will not result in a smaller number of sergeants in the force, because as more members of the force are moved into Dublin and the other cities there will be a corresponding need for additional sergeants among these members.
The whole problem would be solved if the Minister made a long overdue increase in the numbers in the force.
If the Minister wants names, is he aware that Chief Superintendent Doherty was promoted——
It is inadvisable to mention the names of people——
The Minister has asked me for names.
It is not in order to refer to people——
He was promoted over the heads of much more deserving colleagues. He was groomed for promotion——
The Deputy is continually abusing the privilege of the House. He should behave himself.
He asked me for names and I am giving him names.