Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much assure this committee that there was no foundation to the comments made by the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. He stated as much when he withdrew his comments in their entirety. I was in agreement with the public commentary of Deputy O'Callaghan and other members of this committee. We enact legislation as a collective in the Oireachtas. It is incumbent on all agencies of the State to ensure enforcement of legislation but that is particularly the case for An Garda Síochána. Any suggestion otherwise would be unacceptable.

Turning to the Garda Reserve, a number of issues have not been dealt with in a way that some members of this committee might have expected. I refer to the current operation of the Garda Reserve and its future. A strategic review is under way. The report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland stated that recruitment to and expansion and further development of the Garda Reserve might be paused until such time as we might have a look at this review. We could then implement the strategy in accordance with commitments.

I hope that can be done at an early date.

We have set targets for Garda Reserve numbers. A total of 100 Garda Reserve members commenced training in recent times. That is welcome, but I hope we will be in a position to roll out an enhanced blueprint for the Garda Reserve which will see it work hand in hand with An Garda Síochána at various public events, particularly sports and cultural events and festivals throughout the summer, with possible co-operation in carrying out traffic duties. I agree that we need to complete a strategic review and that everybody must work to ensure its implementation.

On civilianisation, we should not underestimate the task involved in introducing new work practices within An Garda Síochána and recruiting specialist expertise from outside the sworn Garda complement. This is very important in the modernisation of the Garda service. Achieving value for money is important. The practice can bring financial, human resources and corporate governance expertise into An Garda Síochána. The aim is to bring a significant complement of expertise into the Garda service to free up members of An Garda Síochána for redeployment to front-line duties. Administrative work previously handled by Garda members will be undertaken by Garda support staff who are not members of An Garda Síochána.