Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 January 2004
298 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in light of the serious public concern over a number of unsolved murder cases, he will discuss with the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána the possibility of re-establishing a dedicated homicide squad. [2379/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the House will appreciate, the deployment of Garda resources and the investigative methods used in murder cases are matters for the Garda Commissioner.
In this regard, I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that a number of national support units have been established, working under an assistant commissioner. These units include the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation which investigates all forms of serious crime including murder and organised crime. While the responsibility for the investigation of all crime rests with the local Garda officers, the national bureau provides assistance to serious investigations through a range of expertise and skills available within it. Bureau staff assist in all aspects of the investigation including preliminary inquiries, case management, incident room management, general investigation, file preparation and other ancillary aspects of a criminal investigation. Specialist investigation teams within the bureau carry out these tasks when requested by local Garda officers or on the direction of senior Garda management.
The system of national support units is designed to meet modern policing requirements in an efficient and professional manner, both at home and internationally, and personnel and expertise from former units have been incorporated into the new units.
All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of a rigorous Garda investigation.
I am glad to note the detection rate for murder remains high by international standards. The Commissioner's Annual Report for 2002 which was recently published shows the detection rate for that year was 81%.
