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An Garda Síochána

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Ceisteanna (25)

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

25. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the current status of the investigation into the cancellation of 999 calls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26064/22]

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Freagraí scríofa

As I have indicated previously, I consider that any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls is a very serious issue. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. The Garda Commissioner has assured me that when someone calls 999 now, they can expect and trust that An Garda Síochána will help, and of course that should always be the case.

In February of last year, I requested the Policing Authority to oversee the ongoing work by An Garda Síochána to review how 999 calls are handled. The Garda investigation into this matter, overseen by the Policing Authority, is ongoing.  It is welcome that there has been ongoing engagement on this issue between the Authority and the Commissioner at both their public and private meetings.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Authority commissioned an external expert, Derek Penman, former Assistant Chief Constable of Police Scotland, to conduct an independent, preliminary examination of the adequacy of the review being undertaken by An Garda Síochána of the invalid and unwarranted closure of Computer Aided Dispatch incidents.

The purpose of this external examination is to give independent, expert assurance and advice to the Authority, to the Commissioner and most importantly to the public.  The assurance sought is that the methodology being used by An Garda Síochána to examine incidents will deliver what is required to understand what happened, its impact and how the organisation can prevent its reoccurrence. 

The Policing Authority published an interim update by the independent expert last November and it outlined key findings and recommendations, which were accepted by the Commissioner.  A further phase of Mr. Penman's examination involves listening to a structured sample of calls and I understand this work began this week.  Following the conclusion of this examination, a report will be produced by the independent expert in due course for consideration by the Authority, and I look forward to the outcome of this and will consider any further findings and recommendations in this regard.

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