Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Report on Crime Investigation 2014: Garda Inspectorate

2:30 pm

Photo of Denis O'DonovanDenis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for their enlightening answers. I may have mixed up PULSE with bail. The latter is a source of concern for me and I appreciate their comments. They recommended that information technology graduates and science experts be recruited into the Garda, perhaps at the rank of sergeant or inspector. That is a good idea because most gardaí who pass through Templemore do not have the necessary skills in science or information technology. We recently came through a phase in which gardaí were stuck in stations throughout the country doing desk work. These gardaí have since been deployed onto the streets to the greatest extent possible. I ask how this recommendation might be implemented. It looks positive on the face of it but how could it be used to improve the expertise available to the Garda?