The Government has recently approved my proposal to achieve a force strength of 14,000 for the Garda Síochána, in line with commitment contained in An Agreed Programme for Government. As part of the preparation for this recruitment campaign, I have taken the opportunity to ask the Garda Commissioner to review the eligibility criteria for entry to the Garda Síochána. This is an opportune moment to ensure that the criteria for entry meet the needs of the Garda Síochána and the society it serves.
One particular aspect which the Commissioner has already studied is the maximum age of entry to the Garda Síochána. This arises from the need to implement Directive 2000/78/EC, which, inter alia, prohibits discrimination in employment on the grounds of age. In this regard, I can inform this House that I intend bringing to Government for approval the Commissioner’s proposal to increase the maximum age of entry from 26 years of age to 35 years of age. This is a significant change which will extend the opportunity to many more people of a career in the Garda Síochána, and increase the pool of talent available to the force. It is my intention, after the necessary consultations with the Garda Representative Associations and subject to Government approval, that the new maximum age will apply to the next Garda recruitment competition to be advertised in the coming weeks.
In addition to the age of entry, there may be other criteria which would benefit from review. It is right, for example, that future intakes of recruits to the Garda Síochána should as far as possible reflect the composition of Irish society, and I am anxious to see if there are any possible changes to the existing criteria which might facilitate recruitment from the different ethnic backgrounds in our community.
One of the eligibility criteria which could benefit from review is the entry requirement for Garda recruits to have passed Irish in the leaving certificate or an equivalent examination. This has implications for potential recruits from different ethnic backgrounds. However, it would be wrong to assume that the answer is simply to do away with the need for Irish. Clearly, whatever new arrangements might be put in place, Irish will continue to have an important place in the Garda Síochána, and everyone who wishes to must be able to communicate with the force through our native language. In this regard, the Garda Síochána has a very strong commitment to delivering a service through Irish. Proficiency in Irish is strongly promoted within the force and that will continue to be the case.
It is also the case that the Garda Síochána, a largely unarmed police force, polices our community by consent, a proud tradition greatly facilitated by the force's close links with the community it serves. I want that tradition to continue and prosper, and it seems to me necessary, therefore, to examine ways in which the relationship between the Garda Síochána and the ethnic minorities in our community might be fostered. The recruitment into the force of members from these different ethnic backgrounds would clearly be a positive step in this regard, for the recruits, the force and the public generally.
Following the completion of the review of the eligibility criteria by the Commissioner, I will consider carefully whether to bring to Government any proposals for further changes to the entry requirements.
As regards the retirement ages for sergeants and inspectors, the position is that I currently have no plans to increase the retirement age for members of the Garda Síochána who were recruited to the force prior to 1 April 2004. The changes in the retirement age for members of the Garda Síochána, outlined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, will apply only to new entrants who are recruited to the Garda Síochána after 1 April 2004.
