Edward Nealon
Ceist:110 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the reported comments of a person (details supplied) in relation to newly-commissioned gardaí; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Newly Commissioned Gardaí.
I presume the Deputy is referring to a rather lengthy interview given by the Assistant Commissioner DMA to RTE on 27 January last on the crime situation in Dublin. I have read a transcript of the interview in question and it is quite clear from the content that, while the remark in question was made, what the Assistant Commissioner wanted to convey was that new Garda recruits now undergo a better quality training programme which lasts for two years, instead of the 22 weeks that applied up to 1989, and which better prepares them for their responsibilities than was the case in the past.
The Assistant Commissioner, mindful of the fact that these particular remarks may have been misinterpreted, telephoned the producer of the programme in question the following morning seeking to have the matter clarified. Unfortunately this did not happen.
I am satisfied that it was never the Assistant Commissioner's intention to cast a slur on or offend any member of the Force, old or young and he has confirmed this on a number of occasions since both in the media and to his colleagues. The suggestion that this minor contretemps has generated "unprecedented anger" throughout the Force is a gross overstatement. The matter was not even mentioned during lengthy meetings I had last week with the Executives of the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.