Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In response to the Senator's last point, we are always looking at ways in which we can free up front-line gardaí who are perhaps in roles that can be done by other people, be it in the courts, areas relating to immigration or other types of roles they have been in previously. We have seen how gardaí have been freed up. A report is ongoing at the moment on the prosecution role, which I will be able to bring to Cabinet in the near future.

This section is about not over-prescribing the use of the Commissioner's professional discretion to manage the organisation in the way he or she sees fit. That is what we are trying to do. It is an enabling provision. At all times the Garda Commissioner has to be mindful of the resources he or she has and how they are being allocated. There might be a situation where the resources are deployed anyway without an ask from a particular organisation or for an event that is taking place because it is deemed in the public interest or necessary for public safety.