I am glad of the opportunity to raise this issue on the Adjournment and I am also glad the Minister of State is here to respond. I will highlight the discrimination that is being inflicted on a member of the Garda Síochána who has been confined to indoor duties because he has to wear a beard. I know the person in question very well. I understand that he has suffered from a facial skin disorder since his teenage years when he first started growing a beard. It is commonly accepted that the only effective relief for this condition is to cease shaving. The member in question joined the Garda Síochána in September 1982. Obviously his membership of that force required that he shave daily which was a cause of serious discomfort to him.
While attending the training college in Templemore, the superintendent in charge noticed the discomfort of the garda trainee on a constant basis. Six years later the garda sought medical assistance due to the serious discomfort. An appointment was made with the then Garda surgeon and the member attended the Garda depot hospital in August 1988. The Garda surgeon, although not a dermatologist, granted permission to the member to grow and wear a beard but that direction was not followed through administratively and subsequently the garda was not allowed to wear a beard while in uniform.
In February 1999 the garda sought the assistance of his own GP in Dublin and he was referred to an eminent dermatologist, who examined him and diagnosed that he was suffering from a medical condition known as folliculitis barbae. The dermatologist explained that the only treatment is to allow the sufferer to grow a beard. He sent a copy of his findings to the then Garda surgeon who concurred with his findings. Unfortunately, the Garda surgeon subsequently died and somebody else took up his duties.
The member in question, who must shave on a daily basis, still suffers serious facial discomfort. Nothing has changed to improve his position and Garda management at local level, while sympathetic to his needs, state they are governed by the regulations contained in the Garda code, which prevent gardaí in uniform from wearing beards.
A person is being discriminated against. A garda in uniform cannot wear a beard because of an outdated regulation. Uniformed members of other police forces throughout Europe who have skin disorders can wear beards. A garda in such a position should not be deprived of the opportunity to participate in all facets of the force's work. A member of the Garda should not be treated as a second class citizen because of a skin disorder.
It is beyond the time that the needs of members of the Garda who suffer from diagnosed medical conditions should be given fair consideration. I appeal through the Minister of State to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to instruct the Garda authorities to exercise common sense and stop hiding behind the code of regulations which are discriminatory to an individual who has been diagnosed with a skin complaint. It is absolutely wrong that a citizen of this State should be denied a basic civil right through an outdated and totally ridiculous regulation.
