Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2004
6 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the comments (details supplied); the number of Garda vehicles that do not have either airbags or side impact systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32606/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to begin by expressing my sympathies and condolences and those of my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the families, friends and colleagues of the two members of the Garda Síochána who lost their lives in the tragic accident in Finglas four years ago. The two men who died paid the ultimate price in the service of their fellow citizens. Their sudden and untimely deaths are an example of the dangers each member of the Garda Síochána can face in the discharge of his or her daily duties. We should never forget this.
Deputy Costello has raised questions relating to comments made in the High Curt by Mr. Justice Johnson about the vehicles involved. I am informed by the Garda authorities that a requirement to include airbags as standard has been part of the technical specifications for the supply of Garda vehicles since 2000. The Garda authorities have informed the Minister that it is difficult to estimate the exact number of those vehicles purchased before 2000 that have no airbags or side impact protection as some manufacturers were supplying these items prior to their being specified by An Garda Síochána. The vast majority of these are not front line emergency vehicles but utility vehicles such as vans and the like.
Significant investment has taken place in the Garda fleet over the last few years. This has resulted in an increase in the size of the fleet from 1,898 vehicles at the end of 1997 to 2,076 vehicles at present. In addition, the Garda is currently arranging the purchase of a further 382 motor vehicles. Approximately 60 of these have already been received and are currently being fitted out. Other vehicles are arriving on a daily basis. This investment in new vehicles will maximise the safety of members of the Garda Síochána and members of the public in the variety of uses of Garda vehicles. Furthermore it will minimise maintenance costs and improve the re-sale value of Garda vehicles.
The issue of safety is always uppermost in the Garda authorities' deliberations on the purchase of vehicles for the Garda fleet. Considerable research has been conducted by the Garda Síochána into the use of various types of vehicles in police forces worldwide and the Minister has been informed that there is little difference in general vehicle policy throughout police forces no matter what part of the world they operate in.
There have been substantial improvements to vehicles, both in their design and construction, in recent years and in the level of equipment fitted to vehicles to bring them to operational standards. The conspicuity of Garda vehicles has been greatly improved both in quality and design. The technical specifications for the supply of vehicles for the Garda fleet have been rewritten to incorporate the highest possible safety standards for the particular class of vehicle. In particular, vehicles are specified with safety features such as ABS braking, driver and passenger airbags, power steering, central locking, electric windows, anti-shatter film to all glass which minimises the injury risk to occupants from shattered glass in the event of a collision and increased conspicuity. These items are specified for all vehicles and can contribute greatly to increased safety. The European new car assessment program, ENCAP, scores are carefully monitored for any tender competition to purchase vehicles. All vehicles purchased in future will be required to have a minimum of four stars in the ENCAP system.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
As the Deputy is aware, the Select Committee on Justice, Equality Defence and Women's Rights met earlier this year to debate the 2004 Estimates for the Justice group of Votes and the issue of safety of Garda cars was raised. At that time the Minister informed the committee that the issue of safety of Garda cars was more complicated than one might think. The Minister further informed the committee that the Garda Commissioner had established a working group, which includes members of the GRA and AGSI, to examine the whole question of safety of Garda vehicles.
The Minister has recently again written to the Commissioner on the matter and he has been informed that the working group is now due to report to the Commissioner before Christmas. It was previously to have reported by the end of August. The Minister has indicated that he will revert further to the select committee when those findings are available to him.
Would the Minister of State agree that action is better than sympathy for the families of the two gardaí who were in court last week? Of course, we offer them our condolences. In the last four years, eight gardaí were killed in vehicles in the line of duty. The judge in the recent case criticised the level of safety in those vehicles. This is what Mr. Justice Johnson said:
It is not acceptable that young men who risk their lives every day to protect the ordinary citizens of this country should not be given the best equipment and training. We at least owe that to them.
We will all agree with that. At its annual conference in April of this year, the Garda Representative Association made a very strong statement, which does not coincide with that made by the Minister of State. The GRA president, Mr. Dermot O'Donnell, said, "Garda cars currently in use——
Deputy, it is not in order to quote during Question Time.
I will paraphrase Mr. O'Donnell's words. He said Garda cars were no different from family saloon cars, apart from their livery. That does not suggest that protective measures, such as airbags, side impact systems and roll over protection mechanisms, have been installed.
What is the situation in the Garda fleet of cars? Young men's lives are being put at risk. Ramming and joyriding is widespread, particularly in cities. In the last two years, €6 million was paid out in personal injury claims to gardaí who were injured in motor vehicle accidents.
How is it that gardaí who are on the street at the most difficult hours, very often at night, and in difficult situations do not have proper protection mechanisms in their cars? The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform showed a saving of €19.9 million in his Department's Estimates. Much of this saving was on equipment and machinery. Why was that money not spent on ensuring that gardaí could do their duty on behalf of the citizens in a safe and secure fashion?
As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights met earlier this year to debate the 2004 Estimates for the Justice group of Votes and the issue of the safety of Garda cars was raised. At the time the Minister informed the committee that the issue of the safety of Garda cars was more complicated than one might think and that the Commissioner had established a working group, including members of the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors to consider the safety of Garda vehicles. The Minister again recently wrote to the Commissioner on the matter and was informed that the working group is due to report to the Commissioner before Christmas; previously it had been due to report by the end of August. The Minister has indicated that he will revert to the select committee when those findings are available.
Deputy Costello very fairly asked about the condition of the Garda fleet regarding safety issues. While the Minister is responsible for providing money for investment in the Garda fleet, it is a matter for Garda management to decide upon the allocation of the vehicles. The need to allocate additional vehicles or reallocate vehicles is assessed by the Garda authorities on an ongoing basis. Factors such as population, crime and area are taken into consideration in the process of assessing vehicle allocation or the need for extra transport. As I outlined to the Deputy, the decision to include airbags as a safety device was made in 2000. The current profile of the Garda fleet is as follows——
The Minister of State must conclude as we have exceeded the time allocated.
May I ask a brief supplementary question?
It will need to be very brief, as we have gone over the time allowed.
Is the Minister of State contradicting the president of the Garda Representative Association who said that apart from livery, Garda cars are no different in their use from family saloon cars? Is he saying there are airbags, anti-roll bars reinforced side panels in the cars as sought by the Garda Representative Association at its annual conference? It threatened industrial action unless they were delivered by the end of the year.
Airbags have been a requirement in all purchases since 2000. The Commissioner is awaiting a report on this matter before Christmas. I had planned to give the profile of the Garda fleet to assist the Deputy. As of 30 November the fleet comprised 1,473 cars — including the ministerial fleet, 223 vans, 235 motorcycles, 88 four-by-four vehicles and 57 other vehicles. The average age of the fleet is approximately 2.9 years with 43.1% less than two years old and a further 30.6% are between two and four years old.
The vehicle in which the two gardaí died had 114,000 miles on the clock.
