Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 1995

Vol. 455 No. 1

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Policing.

Ray Burke

Ceist:

26 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent announcement by the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Authority that any new police service in the North must be politically independent. [11708/95]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The Tánaiste has noted the comments made by the Chairman of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. As the Tánaiste indicated in answer to a question from the Deputy on 23 May of this year, the Government believes that, for a police service in Northern Ireland to secure and enjoy cross-community support, it must be accountable, free from partisan political control and must reflect, both in its composition and ethos, the communities it serves. While it would be premature at this stage to prescribe the precise shape of future policing structures, we are confident that there is an increasing awareness in Northern Ireland that these are the types of attributes that future policing arrangements in Northern Ireland should possess.

In the post-ceasefire situation, growing attention is being paid to the future of policing in Northern Ireland. Discussions on the subject are taking place in various fora, including the consultation process initiated by the Police Authority. The Government will continue to avail of the machinery established under the Anglo-Irish Agreement to communicate our views on this matter and to discuss these issues with the British Government which retains ultimate responsibility in this area.