Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This work has been made much more difficult in these times when funding has been cut back and resources have been limited. It is also important to acknowledge there have been isolated and extremely worrying problems in the force with regard to abuse of the powers entrusted to it and some of these have been outlined. The Bill before us seeks to dramatically reduce any possibility that such powers can be abused while also not impeding the ability of the force to do its job. The establishment of the Garda Síochána independent board under the Bill is an idea I hope the Government will take on board. I understand such independent oversight bodies operate in many other countries. It is sensible and would only serve to enhance public and political confidence in the force.

The changes proposed to the powers of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission are also welcome. The Bill expands its investigative remit to a few crucial areas which I was very surprised to learn are not covered in existing legislation, namely, rape, sexual assault and torture. The proposed independent board would also take on a key role in the operation of the Ombudsman Commission, therefore introducing a further degree of separation from the Government. I would also like to see promotion on the basis of merit.

One of the aims of the Bill is to enhance the concept of policing by consent and encourage a greater role for community feedback in policing. This is crucial for the future growth and success of the force. I have tried for the past two and a half years to engage with the Garda Commissioner to try and understand the logic behind how Garda resources are deployed throughout the State. My research has shown an extreme variance in the ratio of gardaí to population, with Kildare at one end of the spectrum, having 666 persons per garda, while the Sligo Leitrim area has 319 persons per Garda and the national average is 391. To my repeated disappointment I have not been able to find answers. The Commissioner would not agree to meet me and the other Deputies from Kildare. I was not attempting to interfere politically in the vital operations of the force, which obviously would not be the thing to do. I was trying to understand the processes at work. Had there been a channel for elected representatives, such as the independent board suggested, it would have gone a long way towards addressing the issue, which is incredibly important for our safety.

The public is being put at risk by having thin numbers of gardaí on the ground. Not only is the public at risk, but also gardaí themselves, as an incident may have to be attended by a garda on his or her own because, with such thin resources on the ground, only one garda is available.

I believe that variation in the crime rates is due to under-estimation in certain locations. There is much to be welcomed in the Bill. I hope the Minister will take on board many of the suggestions and initiatives outlined in the Bill because it would go a considerable way towards improving policing in this country.

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