Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020
428. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number and rank of members of An Garda Síochána that are suspended from duty by Garda division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5571/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda Commissioner is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including personnel/human resources and operational matters. Moreover, 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 and not for me as Minister.
In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on internal Garda disciplinary matters.
I have been advised by the Garda authorities that as of 8 May 2020, a total of 46 members of An Garda Síochána were suspended from duty. This consists of 0.3% of the Garda workforce including sworn Garda members and reserve gardaí. It would not be appropriate to provide a breakdown by Garda Division as, given the low numbers involved, there is a risk that individuals might be identifiable.
The following table, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, details the number of members by rank who are suspended from duty, as of 8 May 2020:
|
Rank |
Number Suspended |
|
Sergeant & Above |
6 |
|
Garda |
38 |
|
Reserve Garda |
2 |
|
Total |
46 |
More generally, and as the Deputy may know, a review of Garda disciplinary arrangements, including the complaints process, is in line with the recommendations of the report on the Commission on the Future of Policing. An action in relation to revision of the discipline system is included in "A Policing Service for the Future", the implementation plan for that report. A Discipline Review Steering Committee has been set up to oversee the process.
