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

It is very difficult to tell how many Irish speakers will come through the process, but our focus and priority was to make sure that people applied in the first instance. The more people apply, the more people will go through the process and be successful at interview stage as well as subsequent stages, which will hopefully increase our overall numbers.

It is regrettable that there is a view or a sense that by changing the regulations, there was a downgrading. That was certainly not the intention. As regards where this came from, first, the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland set out a huge piece of reform which is under way, based on its initial report. It specifically noted that diversity is vital in any organisation, but particularly in an organisation such as An Garda Síochána that needs to be innovative, adaptable and representative of the communities it supports. The need to have Irish as a second language was seen as a barrier to many people when applying to An Garda Síochána.

Prior to the change in the regulation, the numbers were not increasing. I am not sure whether people were encouraged to come forward just because it was a mandatory requirement. The way people are encouraged to come forward, be it in An Garda Síochána or other agency or organisation, is by engaging with them, making sure there is a clear plan and strategy, and supporting them in the development of their language. I believe that is what we have tried to do here and what the Garda Commissioner is trying to do with the new Irish-language strategy. During our campaigning in recent weeks since the beginning of the year, there were specific call-outs to people in Gaeltacht areas and beyond, encouraging them to come forward and to consider An Garda Síochána, more so than we have done before. If people looked into it, they could see that there was a clear plan, that Irish speakers were being considered and that there was a clear strategy for them within An Garda Síochána. That in itself is very positive.

Making something mandatory does not necessarily mean you will get the outcome you want. Going by the figures, we have seen some progress. Obviously, until we see the numbers of those who get through the interview process and are successful in the end, that remains to be seen. The fact that the number of applicants is 466, up from 129, is progress in itself and we want to build on that.