Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 15 May 2024
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport
Issues Relating to Road Safety: An Garda Síochána
Ms Paula Hilman:
Currently, we do not have that pursuit policy.
One of things we are doing is listening to our members in the context of the reassurances and the questions the Deputy has asked today. We currently have a stopping policy but, as the Commissioner referenced earlier, it will be called pursuit policy. It will provide that clarity. Again, it will enable us to support members in the context of public safety, exceptional circumstances and our obligations to keep people safe. We do say that they should drive within their capabilities, of course. I do not think anybody would expect more and we all have different levels. We have introduced a course but we will not be able to train everybody at any given point. That said, the percentage trained is relative to the size of the country. If our members see something like that happening, what does the public expect us to do? It will bring back clarity in terms of saying they are able to do that.
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