asked the Minister for Justice if he will state in respect of the report of the management consultants on the Garda Síochána which was presented in June 1977 whether he has accepted the report; whether any of the proposals therein have been acted upon; and when he proposes to implement the report.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Consultants Report on Garda Síochána .
19.
: I have to begin by reiterating what has already been stated publicly on a number of occasions both by my predecessor and myself, namely, that this report is a confidential document which was commissioned for the benefit and guidance of those responsible for the management of the Garda Síochána and that it is not proposed, nor was it ever intended, to publish its contents.
It follows from this that I do not propose to give details about what the report does or does not contain or about what parts of it have or have not been implemented. Indeed, the nature of the document is such that it is not appropriate to talk in terms of accepting or rejecting it. The fact is that it is a very long and detailed report dealing with a wide spectrum of Garda organisational, administrative and other matters and contains a great deal of factual material, analysis and comment in addition to actual recommendations.
Its contents are a source of advice and assistance to management in the continuing process of improving and strengthening the administration and organisation of the force and the Deputy may take it that due regard has been and will continue to be given to its recommendations in arriving at decisions in relation to such matters as the strengthening of the Garda management structure, the deployment of manpower, the civilianisation of clerical posts, the reappraisal of systems of training and promotion and personnel policies.
: The Minister's reply to the second question is the reason why Question No. 18 was tabled. Does he accept that this House has a right to know what kind of improvements his Department and his Minister are making in the Garda Síochána structure? Without referring to secret or confidential elements and with a view to ensuring that the people and the House know they are doing their job, the Minister should give the information. This report was funded by public funds. To what extent are we entitled to know whether we are getting value for money?
: As I have stated, the implementation of such parts of the report as are considered necessary has been ongoing and, in that situation, will be seen constantly to reflect itself in the improvements which will be visual in the Garda Síochána.
: What does that mean? Could we have a translation?
: Does the Minister's statement about the implementation of certain parts of the report being ongoing mean that some of the recommendations or some parts of them have actually been implemented? Is that what I am to understand?
: That is correct.
: In fact, that is contrary to what the Minister stated in his first answer when he said he could not say whether they had been implemented. We are not looking for the revelation of secret documents at Cabinet level but a reasonable dialogue across the floor of the House between people with commonsense working for the common good. That kind of reply is a lot of ballyhoo.
: It is not the practice and it was not the practice of my predecessor to divulge such information and my predecessor is a member of the Deputy's party.