asked the Minister for Justice whether a member of the Garda Síochána against whom a disciplinary charge is made is furnished at any time and in any circumstances with a copy of the statements upon which the charges are based; and, if so, when and in what circumstances; and, if not, why; whether steps will now be taken to extend to members of the Garda Síochána in such circumstances the rights to statements of evidence available to persons under the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967; and, if not, why.
Written Answers. - Garda Síochána Disciplinary Charges.
115.
Before preferring a disciplinary charge against a member of the Garda Síochána the investigating officer informs the member concerned of the allegations against him, shows him the statements containing the evidence against him, unless some statement is of a highly confidential nature or there is some other very special reason for not showing it to him, and invites him to give an explanation. If he is subsequently charged, he is, on request, given copies of those statements, if no special reason exists why he should not be given them.
In cases where the commissioner directs the holding of a sworn inquiry into disciplinary charges a summary of the evidence available must be supplied in accordance with Article 10 of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations, 1926. New regulations are at present being drafted in consultation with the commissioner and the three Garda representative bodies.