asked the Minister for Justice whether a person aged 31 years (name supplied) who was a serving officer of the Garda Síochána was dismissed from the service; whether he had been examined for detection of a disease known as alcoholism prior to dismissal; whether there was a gradual deterioration in the performance of his duties as a man; whether this deterioration would be compatible with a deterioration due to alcoholism; and if the person in question is shown to be suffering from alcoholism and responding successfully to modern medical treatment which would return him to full efficiency if he will consider reinstatement of this man to his original position, if only for a trial period of six months, on the production of specialist medical evidence indicating conclusively that his deterioration in service was due to a medical disease.
Written Answers. - Dismissal of Garda.
90.
This man was dismissed by the Commissioner last June with my consent, which was given only after I had examined his record of over nine years service and satisfied myself that he was unsuitable for retention in the Force. None of the medical certificates furnished by him during that period in connection with absences on sick leave suggested that he was suffering from alcoholism.
The initiative in proposing the reappointment of ex-members of the Force is, under the relevant statutory regulations, vested in the Commissioner.