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Garda Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2019

Wednesday, 23 January 2019

Ceisteanna (111)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

111. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí suspended for periods of more than one year; the duration of each suspension; the rank of the member involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3204/19]

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Freagraí scríofa

The Deputy will appreciate that disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 and are a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the specific information requested and when it is to hand I will write directly to the Deputy.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Question No 111 for answer on Wednesday, 23 January 2019 the text of which was as follows: "To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí suspended for periods of more than one year; the duration of each suspension; the rank of the member involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.”
At the time I responded that I would request the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and that I would write directly to her on receipt of same. I apologise for the delay in providing this information to her.
As the Deputy will appreciate, disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 and are a matter for the Garda Commissioner.
I am advised by the Commissioner that there are 20 members of An Garda Síochána suspended from duty for a period of more than one year. The rank of the members involved are; one member of Reserve Garda rank, 15 members of Garda rank and 4 members of Sergeant rank.
I have set out in the following table the duration of each suspension and the number of Gardaí suspended for each period.

Length of time member suspended

Number of members suspended

Between 1 and 2 years

5

Between 2 and 3 years

5

Between 3 and 4 years

1

Between 4 and 5 years

3

Between 5 and 6 years

2

Between 6 and 8 years

2

Between 8 and 10 years

2

I am further advised that in all cases where a member of An Garda Síochána is suspended, they are informed of the reason(s) for the suspension. The suspended member is informed of the availability of the Garda Employee Assistance Service and given contact details by a Liaison Officer. Upon suspension, the member is served with a notice which sets out the conditions attached to the suspension and the entitlements or otherwise of the suspended member.
The Commissioner reviews the suspension of a member every 3 months or at such shorter intervals as is considered necessary in accordance with the Regulations.
A number of the long term suspensions set out above are currently the subject of judicial proceedings.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission on the Future of Policing published its report on 18 September 2018. On 18 December 2018, the Government endorsed the Commission’s report and accepted all 157 recommendations, including those recommending a review of the discipline system currently in place in An Garda Síochána.
As set out in A Policing Service for the Future, the four year plan for implementation of the Commission’s recommendations which I also published on 18 December, the discipline review is one of the priority projects which will be taken forward in 2019.
I hope that this information is of assistance and I apologise for the time taken to issue a response.
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