Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 5

Written Answers. - Garda Identification.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

396 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will concede the request to have initials GT placed on Garda uniforms for the parts of the Galway West division which is in the Gaeltacht area to represent the Irish language - Gaillimh Thiar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16465/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the decision to issue identification letters and numbers to each member of the Garda Síochána is a recent one. Historically, identification letters and numbers were only issued to gardaí in the Dublin Metropolitan and Cork city areas. In 2002, following concern from members of the public about their inability to identify members of the Garda Síochána with whom they came into contact, the Garda Commissioner undertook a review of the matter.

As a result of this review a direction was issued by the Commissioner in July 2002 that all uniformed members of the Garda Síochána would wear identification numbers and letters on their shoulders on duty so that they would be readily identified by members of the public.

In deciding the manner in which this policy decision would be implemented it was seen as essential that lettering and numbers would be easily identifiable and recognisable. To avoid confusion and ambiguity it was decided that each of the 26 Garda divisions rather than the 108 Garda districts would have its own individual distinctive lettering and numbering for the sole use of members of that division. In this manner while the numerals would be similar in each division the lettering would clearly define the division in which the member was serving, thus making the members of the Garda Síochána readily identifiable even when working with members of the Garda Síochána from other Garda divisions.

If this process were to be adopted in respect of Garda districts there would be, in the view of the Garda authorities, significant confusion for members of the public in areas where the town name of two or more district headquarters within the division began with the same letter. This confusion would be greatly increased when every district in the country is considered.

In respect of the Galway West division only part of this division is a Gaeltacht area. In line with the decision to issue lettering and numerals on a divisional basis, the Garda authorities believe that it would be impractical and logistically very difficult to have two different sets of numbers for the division, i.e. G.W. for non-Gaeltacht areas and G.T. for Gaeltacht areas. Dual lettering and numbering in divisions would also cause confusion to the general public.

If this procedure were adopted in the Galway West division similar procedures would, presumably, have to be put in place for the other Gaeltacht areas of the country, namely, Louth-Meath, Kerry, Cork West, Donegal and Kilkenny-Waterford. In some circumstances the Gaeltacht areas in these divisions are only policed from stations or substations. The introduction of numbering for these areas would require numbering and lettering to be introduced on a station by station basis.

The introduction of numbering and lettering on a district basis to cater for the distinctive nature of an area would therefore be difficult to design and administer. The use of additional letters throughout the various Garda divisions would also result in greater confusion in the identification of Garda members by the public and would negate the purpose for which lettering and numerals are supplied in the first place when the variety and number of different forms of lettering and numbering are taken into account.

The use of lettering on members' shoulders is, as previously stated, designed to make members of the Garda Síochána on duty readily identifiable to members of the public at all times. It will not in any way interfere with the continuation of the use of the Irish language for official correspondence or any Garda business in Gaeltacht areas.