Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the appointment of the deputy Garda Commissioner role, an issue arose a month ago regarding the recruitment process for that role and this is an opportunity to raise it. I acknowledge we are talking about it in the context of a process but is information on the status of that recruitment process available? It speaks to a broader conversation about the role of deputy Garda Commissioner, the lead person in the State for intelligence and national security, and that brings with it a certain level of responsibility regarding who is appointed to the role.The Minister will be aware of the conversations taking place about when that person may be from another police force or jurisdiction because he or she has access to intelligence information, witness protection lists and informants. Listening to others who have spoken about this issue, and knowing there has been extensive coverage of it byThe Irish Timesand RTÉ, there are concerns in the security community about somebody coming from another jurisdiction. The UK or US, for example, would certainly not consider somebody for a lead intelligence role who did not come from the domestic jurisdiction. The Minister might be able to shed some light on where that recruitment process is.

Where the legislation lays out this process, it refers to the "criteria relating to knowledge, ability and suitability for appointment to the rank of Deputy Garda Commissioner". Would something of that nature be considered if the person in question is the person charged with national security and intelligence in the State? What type of criteria would be applied to that recruitment process? Does the Minister acknowledge that there would be concerns among those working in the security sector about somebody coming from an external police force into that role? We have to take national security seriously. We have heretofore taken a verylaissez-faireapproach to it. We should take on board the expertise offered by people in other jurisdictions.

Maybe we have felt very secure to date in Ireland and we have been largely protected by our geography, but the geopolitical situation globally prompts us to review how we deal with national security in the State. In some ways, not having a separate national security agency and everything coming under the remit of An Garda Síochána poses challenges for us. Maybe that is something we need to look at. There have been calls in this House by other colleagues to look at that. Perhaps the Department could consider that too.

This Bill is far-reaching. It provides for significant reform, which is to be welcomed. We are not against progress, reform or changing how we do things for the better. Later, we will talk about some reforms happening at a local level. The Minister will be aware of the issues being raised by my party regarding joint policing committees and the changes happening there. I will take the opportunity when that arises to discuss the amendments my party has tabled. We hope the Minister will look favourably on them.

Getting back to the point of the reform taking place here, there is an opportunity for us now, given the extensive change the Minister is bringing about with regard to how we do policing in the country, for us to take a more serious look at national security and intelligence, the role of An Garda Síochána in that and who is charged with that responsibility. That has not happened to date, which is not a criticism of the Minister. Historically, we have been hands-off when it comes to the issue. Given that we are engaging with other police forces around the world and seeing the more recent work in the Minister's Department, we need to be taken more seriously on this front. That means the criteria that we apply to the appointment of the deputy Garda commissioner, if he or she is still to be the person charged with that work, which is another question that needs to be looked at, need to ensure his or her suitability for that role, given what that person will be dealing with and the information he or she will have access to. I say this in the context of whatever potential future governments we may have. This issue has never been more important or pressing. I ask the Minister to address where that recruitment process is and if she is minded to consider the issues I have raised about the appointment process of a future deputy Garda commissioner if he or she is still charged with the intelligence role within An Garda Síochána.