Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
387. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 905 of 9 April 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities in order to answer this question. [20640/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that Parliamentary Question No. 905 of 9 April 2024 refers to the number of Gardaí, by rank attached to each protestor removal team within DMR, in tabular form.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and allocation of Garda members and staff to a given unit. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that training courses available from the Garda College are provided on a needs basis, and with regard to the operational requirements of the Garda organisation.
The purpose of the Protester Remover course is to equip selected members with the skills and training necessary to facilitate the policing of non-violent direct action protests.
To be of assistance, I have contacted the Garda authorities who have informed me that currently there are 27 Gardaí and fewer than 10 Sergeants attached to Protestor Removal teams within the DMR.
I am further advised that the information cannot be broken down by District as it is not the policy of An Garda Síochána to further report on numbers that are fewer than 10. In cases where the requested figures are fewer than 10, the personnel referenced may be identifiable to the general public, thus posing a potential risk to their safety. Furthermore, An Garda Síochána, along with fellow Government Departments and public bodies, is bound by existing Data Protection legislation; the release of figures fewer than 10 has the potential to compromise the protection and privacy of individuals employed by An Garda Síochána and moreover constitute a breach of this legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
You may also be interested to know that, in order to further support front-line Gardaí, including Public Order Units, the Garda Senior Management Team has agreed on a range of measures, which includes the following:
• stronger incapacitant spray,
• expansion of the dog unit,
• increasing public order training,
• more tasers for public order policing, and
• provision of hand-held video cameras for public order units.
