asked the Minister for Justice if he will establish an independent police authority in line with the policy of the Sunningdale Agreement, and similar to the authority already set up in the North of Ireland.
17.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Independent Garda Authority.
16.
asked the Minister for Justice if any consideration has been given by his Department to the establishment of an independent Garda authority.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together. First, I do not accept that what was agreed at Sunningdale in relation to a police authority has any relevance at this stage. Secondly, it is common knowledge that special and serious problems have existed in the North in relation to the acceptability of the RUC by all sections of the people of that area and accordingly the arguments for a police authority there are not necessarily of any relevance here. Similarly, the position in England, for instance, is different as the police there are not organised as a national force and it is worth bearing in mind that the police authority for the biggest force in England, namely the London Metropolitan Police, is in fact a Government Minister, namely the Home Secretary.
I have no proposals now or in the near future to put to the Government for the setting up of a police authority and consideration of it is not a priority as far as I am concerned but obviously it is not something I exclude completely for the future.
Would the Minister not agree that the status of the police force down here today is exactly the same as it was at the time of Sunningdale?
That may very well be but I have no proposals either for now or for the near future to bring about any change.
Questions Nos. 18 and 19 postponed.