Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - National Bureau of Criminal Investigations.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

626 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the names of the members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations who have been promoted in the past five years; the positions to which they were promoted; the members of the NCBI who may have been the subject of internal Garda investigations; if members who were investigated were suspended during the investigations; and the members of the NCBI who have received awards for their work. [9173/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following promotions occurred at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation during the years 1997 to date:

Year	Number	Promoted to
1997	1	Sergeant
	1	Superintendent
1998	2	Sergeant
	1	Inspector
	1	Chief Superintendent
1999	2	Sergeant
	1	Superintendent
2000	2	Sergeant
	1	Inspector
2001	2	Sergeant
	1	Inspector
	1	Chief Superintendent
2002	2	Sergeant
	1	Superintendent

I am further informed that a total of ten members of the NBCI have been the subject of internal Garda investigations. One member, the subject of a drink driving charge, was suspended during the investigation and subsequently resigned.

With regard to rewards awarded for their work, I am informed that at the NBCI, one member has been awarded a bronze Scott Medal and a number of others have received first class commendations for acts of bravery in the course of their duty. The investigation section received a divisional merit award in the year 2000 in recognition of the outstanding contribution its members made to An Garda Síochána.

Numerous members of the NBCI have received other commendations, both internally and externally. Members of the Judiciary have also commended personnel at the conclusion of criminal trials on the professional manner in which investigations were undertaken and the manner in which evidence was presented to court.

It would be contrary to practice to provide the names of the members referred to above.