David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this part of the meeting is to have an engagement with the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána and her team on various matters. Members were invited to submit suggestions and these were forwarded in advance to give the Commissioner some idea of what might be asked. Obviously, other issues may arise as well in the course of engagement.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Garda Commissioner, Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan, and her team and I invite her to introduce its members.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

As I appear before the committee, I wish to state that I am delighted our two deputy commissioners have been appointed. On my rights is Deputy Commissioner John Twomey, who is in charge of operations and national security, and on my left is the chief administrative officer, Mr. Cyril Dunne, who members have met on previous occasions. On his left is Deputy Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin, who is in charge of strategy and governance, Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahony, who has responsibility for crime and security and who was formerly in charge of the Criminal Assets Bureau, and Mr. Michael Culhane, our executive director of finance.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The format of the meeting is that I will invite the Commissioner to make an opening statement which will be followed by a question-and-answer session. It is a "catch-your-eye" situation with members. We agreed earlier that members will ask three questions initially and that I will then move on to somebody else. It is a question-answer-question-answer system. I ask members not to make speeches. We keep those for the Dáil and Seanad.

Before we begin, I draw the attention of witnesses to the position regarding to privilege. They should not that by virtue of section 17(2)(I)of the Defamation Act 2009 witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her identifiable. Members should also be aware under the salient ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite the Commissioner to make her opening statement.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Chairman and committee members for the invitation to attend. I note the wide range of issues the committee would like us to address and I am happy to facilitate it in that regard. If I do not cover all the issues within the time allotted in the opening statement, we will certainly endeavour to deal with any question members may have during the question-and-answer session.

As Ireland's policing and security service, An Garda Síochána has a long and proud tradition of serving and protecting communities and the State. We are determined to ensure that we continue to tackle criminality and disrupt and thwart terrorism in all its forms. It is vital that we continue to adapt to meet the ever evolving threat from criminality in all its forms and meet new and emerging challenges. For example, we have recently introduced a new anti-crime strategy that can be adapted to tackle a range of key crime areas. From now on, all anti-crime strategies will feature five key strands: crime prevention; crime investigations and operations; victim support; education and awareness; and working in partnership with the community and key stakeholders. This intelligence-led, multi-strand approach sees us co-ordinate a wide range of crime prevention and enforcement activities based on intelligence and crime trends to prevent and tackle particular crime types. Earlier this month we launched the first of these anti-crime strategies - Operation Thor - with a particular emphasis on burglaries, the number of which, as we know, increase with the advent of the long winter nights. Operation Thor will see us actively target and disrupt organised crime gangs and repeat offenders by employing a range of methods including: high-visibility checkpoints: the use of high-powered vehicles by the armed regional response units; additional patrolling in burglary hot spots; monitoring bail conditions of prolific offenders; and on-road policing to deny criminals the use of the road network.

Next week we will run a national advertising campaign across print, radio and online media to raise awareness about how people can help protect their homes. If a crime does occur, including burglary, victims will be provided with crime prevention advice to reduce the risk of recurrence and revictimisation. We will also work closely with our most important partners, communities, directly and through community-based organisations, such as the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, Neighbourhood Watch and Muintir na Tíre, to reduce the opportunities for criminals and to ensure that people are working with An Garda Síochána. As an organisation at the heart of communities across the country, we know how crime and the fear of crime can impact on individuals and communities, rural and urban. That is why a cornerstone of our transformation programme - policing and security with TRUST - is about taking care of communities. "TRUST" is not just a word. In this context, it is an acronym: T, taking care of our communities; R, renewing our culture; U, unified governance and leadership; S, supporting our people; and T, technology enabled. It is a five-strand transformation programme and there are a number of subsets within it.

An Garda Síochána has secured more than €200 million in Government funding for this transformation programme. Based on this funding, we are currently prioritising our key initiatives to ensure the greatest community impact. Policing and security with TRUST, which we will launch shortly, will see preventing crime from happening in the first place becoming our number one priority. When crime does happen, as it will in any society, our people will have the systems, technology and the training to ensure all crimes are professionally investigated.

Victims of crime will be placed at the heart of the work of An Garda Síochána. We will ensure there is a victim orientation. We have already begun this with the establishment of 28 victims service offices in each division throughout the country and the setting up of the Garda national protective services bureau to work with our most vulnerable victims. We will also work closely with communities to identify the crimes affecting their areas and put in place solutions that will be as locally-based as possible. A good example of this already in practice is the text alert scheme. Working with the IFA, Muintir na Tíre and Neighbourhood Watch, we set up 700 text alert groups up and down the country with more than 125,000 members. More than 1 million texts have been sent under the system to advise local communities of suspicious or criminal activity in their local area.

We are also working productively with a range of partners across the criminal justice, public and private sectors on crime prevention and detection measures in areas such as preventing the theft of farm machinery, enhancing the use of CCTV throughout the country, tackling metal theft and reducing reoffending by prolific offenders.

Policing and security with TRUST will also see our six regional assistant commissioners given greater responsibility for how policing is delivered locally within their regions. This will result in policing becoming more focused on the individual needs of each area and the communities within it. A key way of reassuring the public is to increase the visibility of gardaí and ensure they are engaging with the community. People tell us they want to see gardaí on the beat or on patrol. Our objective is to maximise the resources available and get as many gardaí as we can engaging with the community to prevent and detect crime. The benefits of recent investments in new cars and more gardaí are already being seen in communities.

Policing and security with TRUST will also see us invest in technology that will free gardaí from the burden of paperwork and enable them to spend more time in the community. It will also equip them with mobile technology and allow them to work more effectively in the field. However, technology advancement will not be a replacement for human interaction. This is what we have heard from communities. They want human interaction with members of An Garda Síochána. The reality is that we need to rebuild the number of gardaí following the recession and we have started that process. Over 500 new recruits will go through the college in Templemore this year and 600 gardaí will graduate next year. Allowing for retirements, this will give us an increase of approximately 300 gardaí each year. We have a commitment that the college in Templemore will not be shut again and that there will be continuous recruitment.

We need to augment the wide range of skills among our civilian professionals in areas such as data analytics, transformation implementation and key business areas that support the delivery of an effective policing service. In recruiting and developing people within An Garda Síochána, we need to ensure they receive the proper training and the right supports. It is important that we do not sacrifice quality for quantity. Moreover, it is critical that we provide Garda members and staff with the skills, tools and resources they need to do their jobs effectively. The ongoing recruitment and professional development, combined with the investment in the fleet, technology, accommodation and training, will allow us to enhance the service we provide for communities. It will see policing delivered in a different way from the way it was done in the past, but our focused commitment to protecting and supporting communities will remain the same.

When it comes to allocating available Garda personnel, we are revising our deployment model to take account of a range of matters, including socioeconomic factors, crime trends, the profile of current personnel in the area and the particular policing needs of each division. All of these factors will be kept under review to ensure we make the best use of our resources.

Tackling, disrupting and dismantling organised crime is a key concern for An Garda Síochána. Organised crime gangs bring misery and devastation to individuals, families and communities through murder, intimidation, drug dealing, robberies and other crimes. In recognition of the fact that organised crime gangs are involved in a range of criminal activity, in particular, drug dealing, earlier this year we amalgamated the drugs and organised crime units to leverage the experience and expertise of their members. An Garda Síochána has made many significant captures, seizures and arrests so far this year. For example, over €40 million worth of drugs has been seized, with more than 500 firearms, including high powered firearms such as assault rifles and AK-47 rifles. In recent weeks over €4 million worth of drugs has been seized, including large amounts of heroin, as well as a number of assault weapons, including submachine guns. Taking these drugs and weapons off the streets has undoubtedly saved lives both here and abroad. It cuts off large funds from gangs, funds that would have been used to commit further crimes. We will continue to take whatever action we can to disrupt and dismantle organised crime gangs. We will continue to work with a range of State bodies and NGOs to protect communities from the devastating effects of drug dealing and the supply of drugs.

By its nature, policing a border presents unique challenges and complexities. We work very closely with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other agencies such as Revenue to protect communities on both sides of the Border. Together, we have had many successes in disrupting a range of criminal activity along the Border. An Garda Síochána and the PSNI maintain close liaison and exchange knowledge and experience to further enhance and deepen co-operation and joint working arrangements.

An Garda Síochána remains focused on protecting communities by being agile and adaptable and making the best use of the resources available, including the recent significant investments in people, vehicles and technology. As I remarked earlier, trust is paramount to An Garda Síochána. Without the trust and support of the community, we cannot operate effectively. After a difficult period, the indications from our public attitude surveys are that trust in An Garda Síochána has significantly improved during the past 18 months, but we are not complacent. We are committed to building on that trust and continuing to work with the support and confidence of the communities we serve.

I would welcome an opportunity to present to the committee at a future date on how our policing and security with the TRUST transformation programme is helping to modernise and professionalise An Garda Síochána to ensure we provide the people and the State with a modern, highly effective and fit-for-purpose 21st century policing and security service.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner for her comprehensive overview. Five members have indicated a wish to ask questions and there will be at least three more. I remind colleagues that the format involve them asking three questions initially in order that no one will monopolise proceedings. If they have further questions, they can come back in later. Will they, please, try to avoid making long speeches as it does not serve any purpose? With respect, the place in which to make a speech is in the Chamber. This is an opportunity to ask questions to gain information. Deputy Alan Farrell was the first to indicate.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner and her team for coming before the joint committee again. I am pleased to have them here. Not surprisingly, I have a number of questions, but I will limit them to three, as requested, and will do my best not to make any statement.

I emphasise how important it is for the committee to have an opportunity to liaise with the Garda Commissioner on Garda operational matters, in particular the transformation programme outlined by her. I appreciate the opportunity to go through it with her. I am keen to address three points, the most important of which touched on by the Commissioner was related to the improvements in and the enlargement of An Garda Síochána, in particular with regard to the numbers of personnel and Garda vehicles and technology, as well as the importance of the Department providing the Garda with sufficient resources to provide a modern and efficient service throughout the State. The Commissioner gave specific figures, including 550 new gardaí this year and 600 thereafter, with a net increase of approximately 300 per annum.

I have a specific question about the deployment model used. I trust the Commissioner received notice of this question in advance. I do not necessarily wish to inquire about the ins and outs of the matter as I appreciate some aspects of the models are probably sensitive. The question relates to crimes being reported on the station network and whether this is at the core of the deployment model. The Commissioner referred to socioeconomic factors, as well as a number of others. Will she drill down into them and provide more detail on what Oireachtas Members can expect to see happen as An Garda Síochána enlarges in the coming years, with a particular emphasis on stations that have seen significant reductions in personnel? There has been an increase in the number of Garda vehicles, with over 600 additional vehicles this year, as well as the rapid deployment of the armed regional response unit. The Commissioner referred to these changes. Obviously, they are important aspects in providing the force with the modern tools it needs to provide a reasonable service.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Members should try to be succinct because time is limited.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Members will appreciate that a number of points have been raised. I will ask Mr. Culhane to deal with the fleet issues. Mr. Dunne will give the detail of the cohort model. In the interests of time, we could provide committee members with further detail later.

I will comment on our workforce planning model at a high level. As Deputy Alan Farrell has rightly said, in recent years An Garda Síochána has seen significant reductions which have impacted on a number of areas. In a general sense, the factors we consider include crime statistics. Recorded crime in a given area will be a factor. The number of personnel currently allocated to a given area is another. We also consider the demographics of personnel in our workforce planning. For example, in succession planning we consider whether there are members who are due to retire or if there more junior members in particular areas. We try to have the right mix of skills and experience. That is our objective.

Another aspect is population statistics. In recent years there has also been a shift in population statistics, particularly in areas outside urban centres.

That is another factor we take into account.

The model we use is quite comprehensive. However, there is no police force anywhere that has managed to take everything into account, because both crime and police work are very demand-driven. It is about making sure we have the best and most effective use of the resources available to us in a particular area, taking into account socioeconomic factors, crime statistics, population statistics and the demographic of the gardaí allocated there. It is particularly helpful to us that by next year we will have 1,150 new members in training. Those members will be allocated based on the factors I outlined. It is very helpful to us to have that in place.

In terms of workforce planning in the context of our allocation model, other factors we consider include, for example, the number of female members we have and the number of members who may be abstracted at any given time, whether because they are on training courses, have suffered an injury on duty or are availing of entitlements such as maternity leave. We try to factor in those considerations in so far as it is possible to do so. I ask my colleague, Mr. Dunne, to comment in more detail on this.

Mr. Cyril Dunne:

I reiterate the Commissioner's point by emphasising that there is no spreadsheet that will take inputs and give out an automated answer as to what the number of gardaí in any particular division should be. Such a thing does not exist. We do look at crime statistics, but we are much more focused on overall workload. In fact, strategically, we are far more focused on crime prevention rather than resolving crimes after they are committed. We certainly take crime statistics into account, but also things like the average time to conduct an investigation, number of calls from the general public on an ongoing basis and so on. All of those inputs go into the consideration of the workload of a particular division.

On the socioeconomic side, a lot of it is down to housing density and population density. As the Commissioner explained, these factors shift over time but not on a weekly or monthly basis; it is a much more general shift. Historically, my colleague Mr. Twomey has been responsible for the Dublin metropolitan region, and he would tell the Deputy that a lot of the crime that happens in Dublin is not based around, or cannot be measured around, the numbers of people living in the city, because a lot of people travel in and out of it. To reiterate, there is no spreadsheet that will give us an answer in this regard.

Another issue of which we must take cognisance is that there is a minimum establishment in any particular division. In other words, there is a level that is required just to keep the lights on, for want of a better way of putting it. That has to be factored in as well. We must measure the proper allocation of resources, taking into account that minimum.

The final major input into the allocation model is the requirement for proper and effective training for new gardaí as they come into the organisation. It is not just a matter of putting new recruits through Templemore for a number of months and then landing them on the community. Rather, we put new gardaí into specific stations where we have the resources to give them the assisted training and oversights that are required and where there is the capacity to monitor them when they become more autonomous. We are guided in that by the requirements from the Garda College.

All of these factors go into the allocation model. Having said that, we do actually use a spreadsheet. We get the numbers in, but it is only the start of the process. After that, it is really down to the senior operational management to oversee the particular issues that apply in given divisions. That is the best way I can describe it.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

The Deputy asked about investment in vehicles. I can provide that detail today, or we can do so after the meeting.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An overview would be helpful.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

My colleague Mr. Culhane will provide an overview.

Mr. Michael Culhane:

The fleet currently stands at 2,651 vehicles, an increase of 217 over the figure at December 2012. Following the recent announcement of additional moneys allocated by the Minister, an extra 250 vehicles are due for delivery before the end of the year. Furthermore, the recently announced capital envelope for 2016 to 2021 includes an allocation of €46 million for vehicles. In addition to the high-powered vehicles that are coming on stream, we are addressing all of the elements of the fleet. We are confident we will have the tools and vehicles available to members to enable them to discharge their duties.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Thank you, Mr. Culhane. I invite Deputy Farrell back in but ask him to be succinct, as there are other members who wish to contribute.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will do my best, Chairman. I expect the provision of additional vehicles and extra personnel will have a profound effect on morale within An Garda Síochána. What is the Commissioner's view on the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015, which deals with repeat burglars and is undergoing final preparation? I understand the Garda Síochána analysis service has done significant work in producing information on where these burglars are from, what they are doing, the locations they are targeting and so on. I understand resources have been allocated to tracking those individuals. While sentencing is not necessarily within her remit, I am sure the Commissioner will have an observation regarding the speculation that such legislation will have an impact on dissuading individuals who are quite prolific from repeating such offences. I am interested to hear her views in this regard.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Again, Mr. Twomey will be happy to provide detailed information today, or we can provide it to the committee later. As the Deputy noted, the Garda Síochána analysis service has done a considerable amount of work in terms of profiling. All our anti-crime operations are intelligence-led, based on the various findings of the analysis service. We will, of course, apply the law as it comes from the Legislature. Anything that helps to keep communities safe is very welcome. As I mentioned in my opening statement, we are doing a lot of inter-agency work right across the criminal justice sector, with a number of agencies, to ensure there is joined-up thinking when it comes to managing particularly prolific offenders. We have several initiatives going on with the Courts Service and Prison Service, for example, around case management and managing people throughout the system. Whatever can be done to keep communities safe, we are committed to ensuring it is done.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My final question relates to technology and the improvements that are in train in this regard within both An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality. I note that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has announced the allocation of a large sum of money towards the provision of closed-circuit television funding for rural villages and communities. That provision will operate in tandem with another scheme which, I understand, was piloted recently by An Garda Síochána whereby a personalised camera was provided to individual members of the force. Is that particular initiative likely to be rolled out as an advancement within An Garda Síochána to aid and assist members to perform their duties? I am interested in how the scheme might tie in with the CCTV facilities already in existence and those to be provided, and with the overall investment in technology, particularly PULSE and other systems, and the investment required in that regard. Does Garda management have sufficient resources to bring PULSE and the other systems that are in use into the modern age? I understand they are not quite there yet.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I will start with the last part of the Deputy's question.

In terms of the broader technology, the Garda Inspectorate's No. 10 report identified that our technology was about 30 years behind what it should be, a conclusion with which we absolutely agreed. The task for us then was to map out our technological needs over the next five years and beyond. We have called this building blocks. We have examined what we need to do now, and obviously the introduction of new technology will have to be done on a phased basis. Mr. Dunne referred earlier to our capacity to take on new recruits. We must also be conscious of our capacity to absorb some of the technological changes that are needed.

Our objective is to create an integrated end to end system and we have mapped out a programme which is technology enabled over the next five years. We made a very comprehensive submission to the Department and are very pleased that there has been significant investment which will take us where we want to go with technology. It is a phased programme and will be rolled out over five years. We have prioritised the implementation in terms of what will have the biggest impact on the service to the community. For example, in the initial phases, we are looking at property and exhibit management systems.

We are not just concerned with the issues identified in the aforementioned Garda Inspectorate report. Our reference point is 2005 and the implementation of the Garda Síochána Act. We looked at 41 reports into An Garda Síochána in that time, including the ten reports of the Garda Inspectorate. There were more than 700 recommendations within all of those reports. We grouped the recommendations into themes and addressed all of the recommendations in the various reports in a phased way over a number of years. Property and exhibit management was identified in our audit committee reports and also in the Garda Inspectorate's reports. The new technology in this area will allow us to track and exhibit from the crime scene all the way through to the court, which will have a big impact, particularly on victims of crime. It will impact on the professional investigation of crime and will address a lot of internal issues for our members too. That, coupled with the building programme, will help us to improve that area.

Another area on which we have started work is a small fix in the context of victim service offices. One of the issues for victims of crime is the importance of being kept up to date on their cases. We were particularly mindful of the victim's directive in this regard. A few weeks ago, we implemented a small fix on our PULSE system which allows us to track the progress of a case and to keep the victim updated. It also allows for supervisory oversight of that. It allows sergeants and inspectors to oversee it and this is very helpful.

The technology programme is a very detailed one and I would be happy to appear before the committee again and give a more detailed presentation on it and on its exact sequencing.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Finian McGrath is next.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Thank you Chairman. I welcome the Garda Commissioner and her team to this meeting. I wish to take this opportunity to offer my deepest sympathy on the horrific murder of Garda Tony Golden. I was very distressed by the way he died and wish to pass on my sympathy to all members of the force.

I welcome the Commissioner's comments on crime prevention and intelligence led strategies and also her comments on the issue of trust. On the issue of gangland crime, we have seen shootings on the streets of Dublin in recent days. We are all aware of horrific murders, intimidation of people and so forth. There is perception among the general public that a lot of serious crimes are not being solved. There were 12 gang related killings last year or the year before and, as far as I know, they have not been solved to date. What is going on with regard to the prosecution of major gangland criminals?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Deputy for his condolences. I will certainly pass them on to our members and to Garda Golden's family.

Gangland crime is a very serious issue and as I said in my opening address, we treat it with the utmost seriousness. We have recently amalgamated our drugs and organised crime bureau because of a lot of gangland activity and the intimidation to which the Deputy referred is drugs related. I will ask the deputy commissioner to speak about gangland crime in Dublin, in particular. Our work in this area is very much intelligence led and a lot of prosecutions have been taken. A lot of the investigations are very complex and can take some time, as the Deputy will appreciate. We have a good track record in terms of solving gangland crime. It may take some time and the cases may not be solved in the immediate term but there have been a lot of very significant prosecutions. Again, I can revert to the Deputy at a later date with more detail.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Commissioner referred to the issue of bail in her opening presentation. In the context of violent criminals being granted bail, what is the role of An Garda Síochána? I am referring specifically to violent crime rather than petty, non-violent crime. I am talking here about guys who have serious form. In the context of the recent death of Tony Golden, the person involved was actually out on bail, which I do not understand.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot speak about individual cases.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know that.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

In a general sense, the bail laws and their application is a matter for the courts. However, when a person is seeking bail before the courts, there are opportunities for An Garda Síochána to seek to have conditions attached and that is regularly done by our members. Those conditions are enforced rigidly by An Garda Síochána and any breaches are brought to the attention of the courts. As I said earlier, bail is an issue on which we are very focused in the context of protecting communities, particularly from violent offenders and high-impact, prolific offenders. Some of the initiatives being taken across the criminal justice sector will help greatly in that regard.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My final question relates to domestic violence and how the new, modern, reformed force responds to it. What major changes has the Commissioner made in this area in the last six months?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

This is a very important area. I referred to cultural renewal earlier in the context of our overall programme. It is about making sure that there is a victim orientation and an acceptance of the reality of victims of domestic violence, which can be one of the most insidious types of crime because it often happens behind closed doors. In the context of our new training programmes we are making sure that there is a cultural awareness of what domestic violence means in terms of the victims of crime. We are working very closely with victim support groups and the various agencies and NGOs that are working in that particular area.

In terms of the our state of readiness in the context of the implementation of the victim's directive and the Istanbul Convention, we are ensuring that we have a centralised focus on this area in terms of policy implementation and overseeing that implementation throughout the organisation. In the initial stages, we set up a new division known as the protected services bureau. That bureau is based in Harcourt Square and is headed by a detective chief superintendent who works along with three detective superintendents and a number of other staff. The bureau is responsible for dealing with the most vulnerable victims and for making sure that we implement the Istanbul Convention in a practical sense, through, for example, a risk assessment tool around domestic violence. That work is under way. In the future, in terms of our overall programme, we envisage that as the need arises, this will be rolled out on a regional basis. We want to make sure that the service is provided as close to local areas as possible and as responsively as possible.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik is next.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Thank you Chairman. I welcome the Garda Commissioner and her team. I also echo Deputy Finian McGrath's condolences to the family and colleagues of Garda Tony Golden on his appalling murder. In terms of victims and support for victims, I really welcome what the Commissioner has said about the victims of crime being placed at the heart of the work of An Garda Síochána. The Commissioner said that 28 victim services offices will be established in each division in the country, which I welcome because services for the support of victims are somewhat patchy or inconsistent around the country. What practical additional supports will victims be able to access through those offices? The Commissioner said that PULSE enables the tracking of cases, which is obviously important but how will the offices provide practical support to victims?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Senator for her comments. We have already implemented the victim services offices to improve our state of readiness for the implementation of the victim's directive. The practical application is really important. What does it mean for victims? We work very closely with the victims' alliance groups.

We meet all 49 victims' alliance groups and the various agencies involved on a regular basis. What we heard from them was that some of the frustration and anxiety caused to victims, in addition to the crimes they had suffered, was the result of not receiving sufficient feedback in a timely manner from An Garda Síochána. Much of this was due to the fact that people were not available because of shift and work patterns. The victim service office does not replace the obligation on individual members of An Garda Síochána to update victims on the crimes they are investigating. However, it provides an individual point of contact for every victim of crime. Each victim service office is staffed by one Garda member and one civilian member, both of whom are specially trained. I thank the victims' alliance groups for their input into the training provided. We had a meeting with them recently and the feedback we have received so far on implementation is that it is helping in a very practical way. We are very conscious of the training we are providing for all members, including supervisors. The practical effect of the victims' directive is that we are moving from a service-based to a rights-based approach. Individual victims and their families have a right to be kept updated. It is all overseen by the Protective Services Bureau which has responsibility to ensure the policy is implemented consistently across the country. We have made it very clear from the outset to the victims' alliance groups that although we might not get it right the first time, as soon as we receive feedback, we will modify it. From talking to the deputy commissioner in the past few days, the early indications from the groups are that the victim service offices are addressing many of the issues raised. They were established in March. I add a word of caution, as it is still very early days, but we are seeing a significant reduction in service level complaints about people not being able to obtain information. The offices seem to be addressing that gap.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My second question is on one of the many reports to which the Commissioner referred from the Garda Inspectorate - the report on the overall operation of An Garda Síochána - at which we looked at this committee. We also discussed the Sean Guerin report. In both cases issues arose around inadequate supervision of trainees and probationary gardaí being given unwarranted levels of responsibility in the investigation of individual cases. With the restructuring about which the Commissioner has talked, there will be a number of changes made. In practical terms, what changes to the structure of the training programme for gardaí are being made to ensure adequate supervision levels?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I will ask the deputy commissioner for operations to talk about that issue in detail.

We have taken all ten reports of the Garda Inspectorate. The one to which the Senator refers is report No. 10 in which a number of issues are identified. There was also the Guerin report. One of the issues raised was the supervision and oversight of student probationary gardaí. That is what Mr. Dunne referred to in terms of the allocation of new gardaí and ensuring they were allocated to areas where they would have a mentor and a tutor to ensure they would be assisted in the second phase of their training. The first phase in the Garda College lasts for 32 weeks during which they receive all of their instructions. When they go to a station they stay there for 35 weeks and are assisted by an experienced member and overseen by supervisors. It is something on which we are very focused in terms of front-line supervision. There was a delay in holding competitions to fill posts of sergeants and inspectors which we believe are instrumental and critical in overseeing the development of student gardaí. That is something we are addressing. The sergeant competition is under way and we hope it will be finalised before the end of the year. The inspector competition will commence shortly. We are very happy to discuss the matter now or, if the Chairman wishes in the interests of time, we can provide the Senator with anything that is required.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No, that is very helpful.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As documentation should be submitted through the clerk, we will all receive a copy.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Last week we launched a report on drugs in which we recommended a move away from the criminal justice model towards a health and welfare approach to deal with the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use. Will the Commissioner comment on that recommendation? I do not know if she can answer the question. At the launch issues were raised about what the Garda might think of it.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I have a very deep interest in the issue of drugs as I worked in that area for a large portion of my career. It is something about which I feel very strongly. It is a very complex issue which, as rightly highlighted in the committee's report, covers social and health policy. We are very focused on it from an enforcement and supply reduction perspective. We also have a role to play in terms of harm reduction. Those involved in our drugs and organised crime bureau work very closely in the context of the pillars of the national drugs strategy. We work with a number of agencies in this regard. I welcome rational and constructive debate on the issue because it is one on which there is a need for a lot of joined-up thinking. It needs people to work together to ensure the harm and demand reduction initiatives that work best are put in place. We would welcome any opportunity to contribute to further discussions on the issue.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner. Her opening presentation was very reassuring, particularly the new TRUST approach. My first question is on the closure of Garda stations. The Garda Representative Association continually asserts that this has impacted negatively on the ability of front-line gardaí to deal with criminality. What is the Commissioner's response to its assertion?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I have said before that it is not about bricks and mortar. I understand the impact of the closure of a Garda station or any other institution in a local area, particularly a rural area where people may feel isolated. It is about our members engaging with the community. Some of the feedback we have received from the community is that people want to have gardaí travelling out to meet them. Some people are not able to go to the local Garda station. Our focus, therefore, is very much on having our members engaging with the community in order that they will not have to go to an office. In making sure gardaí are available, investment in transport has greatly assisted and we are making sure vehicles are allocated to the places most in need.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly commissioner carried out an extensive examination of cross-Border crime over the course of a year. The commissioner met senior police officers in An Garda Síochána and the PSNI, the various local authorities and a range of agencies across the Border. It was an excellent report. One of its 16 key recommendations was the establishment of a cross-Border task force to tackle criminality, to be made up of representatives of An Garda Síochána, the PSNI and the two revenue organisations on the island. I am fully aware that there is solid co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI, on which issue a policing conference was held recently. Does the Commissioner support in principle the proposal for the establishment of a cross-Border task force?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the excellent levels of co-operation. We have a unique and very effective working relationship with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and there are already two task forces in place. They are made up of more than representatives of An Garda Síochána and the PSNI; the joint task force on fuel smuggling and the joint task force on tobacco smuggling are multi-agency. As I mentioned in my opening address, there is no doubt that the complexities of the situation along the Border require a multi-agency and a multi-faceted response. On how we can build on the level of co-operation, the conference the Deputy mentioned is a multi-agency cross-Border conference that we hold every year. Its purpose is to look at new ways of working together. We are always looking for new ways to build on the excellent levels of co-operation. I am aware that there are talks ongoing and we are very willing to engage with whatever will be the product of these discussions.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Garda Inspectorate has produced two reports in recent years. The first was on the issue of fixed penalty points. The second was on the findings of a three-year investigation into crime. It is welcome that the Commissioner and the Minister for Justice and Equality have fully endorsed both reports.

I understand that working groups are in place to implement the recommendations. Can the Commissioner update the committee? The language of trust is really good. It is a very solid development, so I assume that reflects the Commissioner's response to some of the issues raised in the Garda Inspectorate's report.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Yes, it does. It does not just relate to report No. 10, which, as the Deputy says, was carried out over a number of years. Some of the issues that were identified in report No. 10 of the Garda Inspectorate relating to crime investigation had been identified in previous reports. Due to the constraints that were in place, they could not be implemented. As I mentioned earlier, we took all those issues. We wanted to make sure that we identified all of the more than 700 recommendations from all of the reports, 280 of which were included in report No. 10, and found a practical way to implement them on a phased basis that would achieve the desired outcome. Over the past nine months, we have not been sitting still but have been putting it together. We wanted to make sure we could implement it in a meaningful way that the community would begin to see.

In my opening statement I mentioned that over the past nine months we have taken some comfort from the fact that the level of trust and confidence in An Garda Síochána has increased, but we are not complacent. In April 2014, The Irish Timesconducted a survey that found that the level of trust in An Garda Síochána was 67%. We commissioned a public attitudes survey through an independent research company. Certainly, the last three quarterly surveys indicated that the level of trust has gone back up to 84%, so we take some comfort from that. We have not been waiting just for the launch of our programme. The victims' service office is one of the things we have been implementing along the way, and we believe this contributes to that turnabout.

Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner to the meeting and thank her for her opening statement. I also join with other speakers in extending our sympathy to the family of Garda Golden.

My first question relates to the upsurge in crime during the recent Halloween festival. It is normally an event for family and children but this year, in parts of Dublin, including my constituency, there were a number of quite serious incidents. One of them involved an attack on an ambulance in Donaghmede in an attempt to get the patient out of the ambulance. Understandably, they did not succeed, but the ambulance was immobilised and another ambulance had to come to its assistance. Another public order incident occurred in Clare Hall, a fairly large estate, which received quite an amount of coverage in the media. That happened on Halloween night. The third incident took place at Beaumont Hospital, where a man was stabbed on Halloween night. Apparently, the man had been assaulted or stabbed a few hours earlier in the Priorswood area. I know Halloween was on a Saturday night this year and Saturday nights tend to have a higher incidence of this behaviour, but the level of anti-social behaviour on that night needs to be looked at. Normally, there are incidents around bonfires and the kind of anti-social behaviour that takes place when things get out of hand, but what happened on this occasion was on a different level and there would appear to have been some kind of criminal involvement in some of it. Could the Commissioner devise a strategy to deal with that in case it happens again?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I might ask Mr. Twomey to answer that question.

Mr. John Twomey:

Halloween night was a particularly challenging night for the members of An Garda Síochána and indeed for all of the blue light services. A lot of planning takes place in advance of any such night. We work with the likes of the Fire Brigade, the local authority and the various joint policing committees. Detailed plans are put in place to ensure that the night is an enjoyable and safe night for all who want to enjoy the festivities.

There has been an ongoing improvement and reduction in the overall level of anti-social behaviour incidents in various communities. This trend actually continued this year. What is of particular concern is the fact that there were a number of very serious incidents in which people were seriously injured. There are ongoing criminal investigations into each one of those incidents. This will be part of the debrief with all of the other agencies, and it will form part of the planning to see whether it was a once-off or a trend and what action An Garda Síochána needs to take.

Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My second question relates to burglary of dwellings. Much of the recent debate has been about burglaries in rural areas. I understand that burglaries in rural areas have gone down but the number has gone up in cities, particularly Dublin. What kind of strategy is in place to deal with this, given that we are told that burglaries have gone up in cities?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

The statistics show that burglaries in rural areas are down and that there is an increase in burglaries in urban areas. However, statistics are not really helpful sometimes. It is about focusing on the victims of crime, because any victim of a burglary is a victim too many. We have launched Thor, which is a multi-strand approach to targeting crime in urban and rural areas in terms of respect of engagement, visibility, community and making sure people are out there. Mr. Ó Cualáin mentioned earlier that it is not just about having high-powered cars to deny criminals the use of the motorways. We have also invested significantly in mountain bikes, particularly for urban and more densely populated areas, to have gardaí visible and engaged with those communities. The deputy commissioner responsible for operations can talk more about the specific details.

Mr. John Twomey:

In respect of Thor, we have carried out a temporal analysis of this type of crime. We are using that analysis to deploy our resources in advance of where we think the crime will take place to prevent it. We will be deploying those resources and they will be highly visible with a single objective - to prevent crime from happening in the first instance. That analysis is supported by people who will come in at a later stage in terms of the investigation and operation. So when the Commissioner talks about a multi-strand approach, initially, it is out there to prevent the crime happening in the first instance through a high-visibility uniformed presence, supported by our crime investigations and operations at a later stage.

Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My final question relates to the Garda response when traffic hold-ups occur. There was an accident on the M50 this morning and much of the traffic in the north city was very slow-moving and many people were late getting to work. A rail strike took place on a Friday morning about a fortnight ago, and Malahide Road, Howth Road and Clontarf Road were all full of slow-moving traffic. There was a complete standstill in Fairview. People commented to me that they did not see any gardaí on the street. People do not behave very correctly when this kind of situation arises. They try to drive through red lights, and this makes the situation worse. There is a need for a Garda presence, particularly at these junctions where one finds several roads intersecting. People commented that they did not see anybody on that particular morning. These kind of things happen unexpectedly as well. Is a strategy in place to deal with a traffic standstill that occurs for whatever reason?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Perhaps the deputy commissioner for operations will take that question again.

Mr. John Twomey:

The simple answer to the question is that there is a procedure and a working relationship in place where all of the agencies come together - An Garda Síochána, the various transport groups, Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and the DART and rail - to provide that support and work together to ensure the free flow of traffic around the streets of Dublin. There has been a considerable increase in the volume of traffic in the past 12 months. It is that balance between the increased volume and the capacity of the road network to ensure the free movement of traffic that causes challenges on a daily basis. It proves how vital the likes of the M50 are to the road network around the city. Ongoing meetings with the National Transport Authority and all the various transport groups take place on a monthly basis to prepare for situations and events such as the one that happened today on the M50 and ongoing disputes. When one loses one arm of the network, such as trains, it moves people out onto the roads - an already congested network. This creates difficulties.

However, there is a lot of work bieng done and co-operation to try to minimise delays.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in expressing sympathy to the family and colleagues of the late Garda Golden.

I welcome the Commissioner. She mentioned the text alert system in her opening address. It seems the system has been quite successful, with 125,000 people participating in various groups. What is the cost to An Garda Síochána of the text alert system? Does the Commissioner plan to try to increase the number of groups and, by extension, the number of participants in the programme?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Perhaps Deputy Commissioner Ó Cualáin, might talk about that issue. We have plans in place for an increase. As I mentioned, we are working very closely with the IFA, Muintir na Tíre and Neighbourhood Watch. The scheme has been tremendously successful. It provides a sense of civic togetherness and results in people working together and watching out for one another. It is, therefore, very welcome. I ask Mr. Ó Cualáin to elaborate on it.

Mr. Dónall Ó Cualáin:

I cannot give the Senator an exact figure for the cost, but it is not an expensive system. The issue is the level of outgoing traffic produced by the system if there is an alert and the reaction to it. There is a learning curve for all of us, but the system is improving to the extent that we hear every day good news stories about how the system has worked in communities. We are working with Muintir na Tíre to ensure the system can be replicated everywhere, especially in rural areas, where we have great successes on a weekly basis based on the level of traffic. I can provide the actual costings at a later time through the clerk, if appropriate.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Perhaps Mr. Ó Cualáin might do so in his own time.

My second question relates to the ongoing Garda operation at Shannon Airport as a result of the protests against the American military's use of the airport. I presume the ongoing operation is a great drain on resources. Have the resources the Garda is deploying in this operation increased in recent times? Has the force been able to scale back the resources required and, as such, redeploy them elsewhere?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Deputy Comissioner Ó Cualáin, was previously the assistant commissioner in the western region and as such, is very familiar with it. To answer the Senator's question, we keep the matter of resources under review. Resources are deployed at the airport, as required. However, when they are not required, they can be redeployed to other areas where need arises. The local chief superintendent keeps the matter under review.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My final question is on cybercrime. In recent years young people, in particular, have taken their own lives as a result of it. Have the numbers of investigations and convictions for cybercrime and cyber-bullying, in particular, increased? Were there convictions? Has there been much success in this area? Does the Garda have a unit in its headquarters or an IT section that monitors social media to identify sources of cybercrime and cyber-bullying?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Again, this is a very complex and emergent phenomenon. It is very difficult to identify the perpetrators online. Cyber-bullying, in particular, is very insidious and people hide behind fake personas and pseudonyms. However, we have a unit that investigates that type of offence. We have a unit that is very focused on ensuring we build our capability and capacity to deal with it. We collaborate very closely on it, not only with other police forces and agencies but also with academia. We have a programme which involves University College Dublin to examine forensic computing and cybercrime, in particular. It is a growth area which we have identified as one of the emerging challenges with which we have to deal.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner and her team. I live in County Louth where the whole community and I acknowledge the tremendous sacrifices members of the Garda have made. The latest sacrifice was made by the late Garda Golden. Before him there was Garda Donohoe and before him, some years ago, there was Sergeant Morrissey. I am fully supportive of the police and acknowledge the great sacrifices that have been made. However, people are asking me how exactly the Garda and the Government will deal with the policing needs of County Louth. I respect and acknowledge the significant increase in collaboration between the Garda and the PSNI. Notwithstanding the fact that the Garda has deployed approximately 22 additional gardaí and two sergeants to north County Louth, people are concerned. Bearing in mind that I am absolutely not being critical of the Garda, how can we reassure the public that a sufficient number of gardaí will continue to be deployed in the region in view of the significant murders there and the level of cross-Border crime?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Deputy for his comments and remembering all of our colleagues. We are always very mindful of the ultimate sacrifice paid by some of our colleagues and the suffering of their families.

As I stated, Border policing is unique and very complex. I am very familiar with the specific issues in Dundalk. On moving members of the force there, I am sure everybody will appreciate that having a second colleague murdered in less than three years has a huge impact on the resilience of local gardaí. The movement of 22 gardaí and the sergeants to the region is to provide for operational resilience at a time when it is most needed.

We mentioned our allocation model. It is a question of ensuring, in so far as possible, that the correct resources in terms of personnel, the fleet and otherwise are allocated. We have a very specific and targeted operation across the Border counties. It partly involves our ongoing co-operation with the PSNI and other agencies north and south of the Border. Our clear objective is to make sure we protect communities north and south of the Border.

Most recently, the deputy commissioner for operations and Deputy Commissioner Ó Cualáin met a contingent from Dundalk and discussed in very great detail with it the specific issues that arose in the region. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, it is a matter of providing reassurance for the local community and ensuring there is visibility in the locality to ensure people know gardaí are there with them.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have a further question on that aspect. Acknowledging what the Commissioner said, my problem which is not with her answer concerns the division of powers that affects Members of the Oireachtas when questioning the Department about the Garda. In replies I receive when I ask about Garda numbers in County Louth such as the number in 2015 by comparison with that in 2010 I am always told, properly, that it is a matter for the Garda on which to advise the Government. However, I must repeat that deep concerns remain about the murders and crimes still being committed, although I acknowledge the significant progress made recently. An individual robbed an ATM machine and was caught the next day, presumably because of the activities of the Commissioner's good people on the ground. How can we reassure people further, notwithstanding what we all believe? The IFA in County Louth is very concerned about crime. It is due to hold a meeting on the issue shortly. I have no doubt that the Garda will, rightly and properly, be represented at it. We need to take a further step in reassuring the public not only that we are committed to addressing this issue but also that additional gardaí will not just be taken away. That is a fear people have.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Deputy. I absolutely appreciate the concerns of people across the country, including along the Border. Gardaí have been deployed temporarily to provide for operational resilience, but it is our intention, with the permanent allocation of our new recruits in January, to have this matter addressed.

I am delighted that the Deputy mentioned and thank him for so acknowledging the great work being done, particularly with the crime commission in Northern Ireland. However, it is indicative of the work being done under Operation Thor and the extra patrolling hours, including in Border areas. The operation involves distribution throughout the country. The incident the Deputy identified in Carrickmacross and that in County Donegal, where three people were arrested, are very significant indicators.

Even though it is early days, with the additional patrolling hours put in place, more than 30 people have been arrested in the past ten days. There have been significant successes, albeit it is early days. It is indicative of the work that can be done. In reassuring the public, it needs to see that gardaí are out there and we need to ensure they are visible.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I turn to my final question and again I wish to make it clear this is not to criticise. An issue that arose in the most recent appalling murder was that somebody from another jurisdiction - the North - was before the courts on the charge of being in possession of a gun and that person was granted bail in the South under due process. I appreciate the Commissioner cannot comment on individual issues, and in accepting the comments she made with regard to co-operation North and South, are the Garda and the PSNI always informed when people have been charged with serious crimes in either jurisdiction? In particular where guns and illegal organisations are involved, is there a full exchange of information?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

As the Deputy stated, and as he will appreciate, I cannot comment on the individual.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not asking the Commissioner to so do.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

In a general sense, what I can say is that the levels of co-operation are excellent. There is regular exchanging of intelligence and information in respect of both hard and soft intelligence. A number of structures are in place to do this and my colleagues and I, at all the various levels, maintain regular contact. This happens all the way down through the organisation, right down to a tactical level both north and south of the Border. The respective commanders in the Border counties meet regularly and, for example, our automated number plate technology is used regularly and there are regular updates north and south of the Border every 15 minutes. Consequently, there are excellent levels of exchange of information and intelligence.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With respect, the question I am asking is simple and clear. Is such information exchanged if people are before the courts on a serious charge such as possession of a gun? That is the question essentially.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

There is a regular exchange of intelligence and without speaking about the specific case-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I accept that.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

-----there is a regular exchange of information and intelligence.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner and her team and wish them well in their fight against crime. I have two brief questions, the first of which has been touched on previously and concerns the subject of bail. As a Member of the Seanad, part of my life involves travelling the country from Donegal to Kerry occasionally and one concern that comes across clearly at meetings and gatherings is that the bail laws are not working sufficiently. While I accept it is a matter for the court to set bail, is there enough strenuous opposition by gardaí to bail being granted in certain cases, as they are entitled to do? Second, is the Commissioner concerned that the number of crimes being committed by people on bail is, if anything, increasing? It is a source of worry and this is the message I have been getting from people generally. The Commissioner may wish to deal with that question first.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Senator. As I stated earlier, and as the Senator rightly pointed out, bail is a matter for the courts. Gardaí do object to bail and if there are grounds on which to object, they certainly object to bail when the occasion arises. It is a constitutional right of individuals to get bail and sometimes, even if bail is refused, it will be appealed. However, that is outside the control of the Garda. As I stated, gardaí do object to bail and make applications to have certain conditions attached to bail if it is granted to an individual. They base that on their knowledge of the individual with part of it being the propensity to reoffend or the propensity to perpetrate violence on other people. It is something of which the Garda is highly conscious and we are committed to working with any laws that are under consideration at present that would help to protect further and keep safe the public.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

What was the Senator's second question?

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Recently, I had a lunch meeting with a young man who is completing his final Blackhall Place examinations and who works on the criminal law side in a part of Dublin that shall remain nameless. He brought up the subject of one person with whom he was assisting in his office and who had something like 147 previous records. This person was a kind of repeat offender who most likely would have a further 100 records in his career. The question that young man put to me and which I should ask here is whether there is a view within the Garda or held by the Commissioner that a system of electronic tagging might be introduced for people who have a long record of repeat offences, which sometimes are quite serious, such as burglaries or whatever. I do not make this point lightly and know the point of view of the civil rights people. However, if one takes as an example the case that occurred in County Tipperary of that appalling assault on a family, resulting in robbery and injuries to a decent family, would it not make sense and save a lot of time in Garda surveillance if the Garda knew where those people who have a known criminal record were? This was the point made to me by the student and I replied that were the opportunity to arise, I would put it to the Commissioner and I seek her views on this issue. I do not make this point flippantly and have mixed views on the proposal but at the same time, when one sees someone with 147 previous convictions, some of which probably were for petty crimes, it begs the question as to whether it would not be useful to the Garda force to know where are certain individuals at particular times.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The committee's penal reform report published earlier mentioned and highlighted the issue of tagging. Members travelled to Finland and saw it in operation there. I understand it is in operation in some sense here at present as a pilot. When she responds to the Senator, the Commissioner might comment on that as well.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Chairman and the Senator. The Garda is always looking for ways to ensure the management of offenders is better managed and some initiatives that are in place are a joint agency response to managing offenders. Again, we are looking in particular at high-impact prolific offenders and then other offenders who probably are more easily case-managed throughout the criminal justice system. One proposal that has been explored is the concept of tagging. Learning from the experience of other jurisdictions, tagging can be beneficial. However, it is highly complex in a number of areas. In some senses, it certainly could be stated it would reduce resources deployed by An Garda Síochána in surveillance of such individuals but, in effect, it actually can increase the use of resources in a different way. However, learning from other jurisdictions, what can be beneficial is a targeted and focused use of tagging with specific types of offenders. This is a topic that is under discussion right across the board at present and the Garda certainly is having some input into those discussions from experiences in other jurisdictions.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will ask one further brief question of the Commissioner. Is there a possibility to have surveillance of vehicles that may be used by certain criminal gangs or for basic matters such as when a vehicle lacks an NCT, tax or insurance? As many people go through tolling points periodically at which one's number is checked to ascertain whether one has a tag, is there a way in which this information could be correlated with the Garda in order that the force could access information that a particular vehicle, which might be of interest to it, is heading down the M7, the N5 or the M1? I acknowledge that private companies run these tolling points but surely this is a possibility if it is beneficial to the prevention of crime.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

We always are seeking to have more ways to work together in a collaborative manner, albeit within the constraints of the law and the data protection laws, in particular, on opportunities to share data and information. The Garda is constantly looking at opportunities to expand in this regard but one must be mindful of the data protection constraints that may be in place. Without going into the detail of some of the Garda's surveillance operations, we have a capability to use our automated number plate recognition to upload regularly and in the context of some issues I mentioned to Deputy O'Dowd on updating data between the Garda and the PSNI on a regular basis, this happens and it certainly assists in the targeting of individuals. However, this is something we explore continuously.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner and her colleagues and offer my condolences to them on the death of Garda Golden. I wish to touch briefly on the bail laws again, as I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister regarding people who were out on bail and who have reoffended.

Last year more than 23,000 people who were out on bail reoffended, and more than 25,000 people reoffended in 2010, much of which was petty crime. I accept that we cannot put all those people into jail, which I understand is frustrating for the Commissioner and her members. As late as yesterday, one of the nation's most prolific burglars was before the courts-----

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have to be careful not to name anybody.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

-----but he was let out on bail, despite the protests of An Garda Síochána. If a person arrested for a serious crime is brought before the courts in the Netherlands, that case is dealt with within a number of days and he or she is convicted. Last year, nine homicides were committed by people out on bail, and in 2010, seven homicides were committed by people out on bail. A bail Bill will come before the new Dáil next year, an issue I have raised with the Taoiseach. Will the Commissioner be consulted by the officials in the Department on the drafting of that bail Bill? Will she have an input into that in terms of what she would like to see it contain? I am aware that this is a frustrating issue for the members of the Garda. We hear that all the time from our colleagues in Galway and elsewhere. If the Commissioner will not have an input, would she wish to have one?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Yes, we do have an input. The Deputy is right. Sometimes it is frustrating but, as I said earlier, offenders have a constitutional entitlement and they are also entitled to due process. Anything that can help to reduce offending and help both An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service to deal with offenders is to be welcomed, but we would make submissions that we are asked to make on any legislation.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have a second question for the Commissioner. I am aware that in the streets of Dublin one can hire a gun for €200 or an Uzi machine gun with a magazine of bullets for €500 from, I have been told, the dissident republicans. There is a guns-for-hire culture in our city. If a person wants to shoot someone, he or she can hire a gun from somebody to carry out a murder. What else would one do with a gun? Is the Commissioner aware of that, and is it true?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I am certainly aware of the availability of firearms, but not to that extent. It is something we monitor very carefully from an intelligence point of view. In terms of the availability of firearms, this year alone An Garda Síochána has seized more than 500 firearms. Some of those were very high-powered weapons, including AK-47 sub-machine guns and a variety of weaponry. It is something on which we remain very focused. Our intelligence on the activities of organised crime gangs is comprehensive. Thankfully, we have seen a very significant reduction, but we cannot be complacent about it because it takes a great deal of dedicated hard work. We have seen a significant reduction in gangland criminality but our intelligence infrastructure remains focused on it. I am not aware of what the Deputy just outlined but we are very conscious of the availability of firearms, and we carefully and constantly focus on reducing their availability.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware that the Garda has a number of gangs under surveillance. Can the Commissioner indicate the number of serious criminal gangs, which carry out a great deal of criminal activity in our capital and also in Galway and rural Ireland, that are under 24-hour surveillance? Does she have enough resources to keep all those serious gangs under surveillance? I am sure there are gangs she would like to have under surveillance but she may not have sufficient resources to do that.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

As I do not wish to compromise any of our tradecraft, I have to be mindful of giving anybody any detailed information.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand that.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

We have dedicated resources focused on gangland and organised criminality, and criminality in all its forms, including that nexus between what the Deputy mentioned earlier, namely, dissident republican activity, and organised criminality. That is something on which we remain completely focused. We have dedicated resources that do that. I am satisfied that the resources we have in place currently are sufficient to do that, but it is something we keep under constant review. We recently amalgamated our drugs and organised crime bureau, which allows us to have a centralised capability.

In terms of our intelligence coverage and capability of these gangs and individuals who would supply firearms or drugs or who would be engaged in the variety of criminal activity that these individuals are engaged in, we are satisfied that that is comprehensive and it has yielded significant successes. As I said at the outset, our drugs and organised crime bureau indicates that this year alone, €40 million worth of drugs and more than 500 firearms in total have been seized by An Garda Síochána. That is indicative of the resource deployment and intelligence we have on these people.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I welcome the Commissioner and her colleagues. I share fully my colleagues' support for the gardaí. I appreciate the great difficulties the Commissioner is having generally, but particularly along our Border, and I very much welcome the additional resources she has allocated to that area. Given the huge number of Border crossing points and the fact that there are probably more criminals outside Dublin than anywhere else in the country, am I to understand that, in the past, road blocks have been threatened and have had to be abandoned?

I have three further questions. First, does the Commissioner see a need for armed backup for road blocks to combat some of the criminality?

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We will hear the answer to that question first and come back to the other two.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

They are brief questions.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know that.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

We have a dedicated operation in place across the Border counties and that includes armed backup as required. We have a combination of our emergency response unit and our regional response unit which are available to back up our front-line gardaí in carrying out their various tasks in that area, including checkpoints.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Second, the co-operation and liaison between the Garda and the PSNI is excellent, but does the Commissioner see any way that can be enhanced further?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

We are always looking for ways, even recently at our organised cross-Border conference on crime, to build on the excellent and effective co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI and other agencies, including the Revenue Commissioners, customs, and HM Revenue & Customs in Northern Ireland. I mentioned earlier the two joint task forces that are already in place, one looking at fuel smuggling and the other looking at Border smuggling. We are willing to engage in any new initiatives, and I am aware there are talks under way, that can build on that level of co-operation and enhance it further.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Last February, the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Dublin unanimously recommended the creation of a task force - the Commissioner may be referring to a different one - on a full-time basis to deal with all aspects of criminality there. Does the Commissioner see merit in that? I am aware that it is subject to talks in Stormont, and I hope it comes about, but what is the Commissioner's view?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Anything that can help to enhance the existing co-operation is welcome. I am very confident about the current levels of co-operation and the significant successes achieved by taking a multi-agency, cross-Border approach. In terms of anything that would help to address the complexities of the Border, significant cognisance must be taken of the various jurisdictions that work North and South of the Border, but we would be happy to contribute to anything that will come from those talks.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Garda on its work and offer my sympathy and that of my colleagues on Garda Golden's tragic killing.

I have a question on Operation Thor, which was introduced to deal with criminality, and specifically with regard to rural east Limerick, an area I represent. I have written to the Minister on this matter and asked her to take it up with the Garda Commissioner. It concerns the tragic loss of John O'Donoghue's life in Toomaline, Doon, during a burglary. In the past four years in rural east Limerick, which includes Murroe, Pallasgreen, Cappamore, Doon and Oola, Garda numbers have decreased by 44%, down from nine to five. That area needs extra gardaí. What is the Commissioner's view on that? Has she had an opportunity to appraise the position in that area?

The Commissioner spoke about Garda numbers. We had a major issue with gangland crime in Limerick and the extra gardaí made a significant difference in tackling that.

We have lost Garda numbers in Limerick through retirements, transfers and other things and that aspect feeds into rural east Limerick as well. Will we get extra gardaí, specifically in rural east Limerick? There has been a 44% reduction in numbers with a loss of four gardaí over the past four years.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Deputy for his comments. First and foremost I would like to say that the death of John O'Donoghue was tragic and I extend our condolences and sympathies to Mr. O'Donoghue's family. As I mentioned earlier in terms of Garda resources, it is something that we do keep under continual review. We have a new allocation and deployment model which we are working on. That will factor in all of the factors that the Deputy has just mentioned, including the loss of the four gardaí in east Limerick. The matter will be addressed. The point I would like to make, and we made it earlier in terms of the allocation particularly of student gardaí, is that student gardaí are going to areas where they can be assisted in their training. That allows us to free up more experienced gardaí to transfer to various areas so deployment is something that we keep under review.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Limerick received no recruits from the most recent graduates from Templemore. There is a sense of urgency particularly in rural east Limerick because people are very frightened. On foot of that burglary we had further burning of hay barns. The local gardaí have put an operation in place which dealt with the matter and has been successful. I have asked a direct question. When will we see extra gardaí deployed on the ground in rural east Limerick?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Yes, I thank the Deputy. Assistant Commissioner O'Mahoney covers the southern region as well in terms of the allocation of gardaí. The next tranche of gardaí are due out of the college in January. I cannot make a promise here because we will have to look at where the allocations are. Certainly, in terms of the allocation of gardaí, gardaí have gone to the southern region and they will be allocated and distributed according to the need that arises there. That does not take away from the reduction of four gardaí in east Limerick but we do have to look at the matter the context of the distribution of gardaí. If the Chair wishes, Assistant Commissioner O'Mahoney can respond.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Permission granted.

Mr. John O'Mahoney:

I thank the Chairman. I thank Deputy O'Donnell for raising the issue as well. Currently, I have responsibility for the southern region which encompasses the area that Deputy O'Donnell's question relates to. I am very conscious of the matter and I have been in discussions with the Garda Commissioner about matters there. Okay, numbers are down in east Limerick. The Deputy talked about certain incidents. It must be remembered that on the day in question, with the unfortunate death of Mr. O'Donoghue, the Garda were very quickly on the scene which should be acknowledged.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that fact.

Mr. John O'Mahoney:

As a result, arrests were made. I have spoken to Chief Superintendent Sheahan on a regular basis on the matter. As recently as in the past two to three weeks, an operation has been put in place which the Deputy acknowledged.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Mr. John O'Mahoney:

As a result of that operation there have been very significant arrests.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Mr. John O'Mahoney:

Plus very significant developments in relation to those cases.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome that.

Mr. John O'Mahoney:

I am unable to speak any further on the matter. The regional support unit and resources from Limerick have been working very closely with the local gardaí in east Limerick. We are working very closely as well with the community. An operation has been put in place. We will constantly monitor that situation. In terms of resources becoming available, I know that in the very recent past extra gardaí have been reallocated from Limerick city to the Bruff district.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Does the Commissioner wish to respond?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Yes, Chairman. By way of reassurance in terms of Operation Thor which we mentioned earlier, its additional patrol hours are distributed right across the country which includes east Limerick. Chief Superintendent Sheahan recently mentioned that fact at a joint policing committee.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A number of people wish to contribute a second time and I urge them to ask brief supplementary questions. I call Deputy Farrell to commence.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is my second time around. I have a question on drugs and firearms for the Commissioner. My question is specific to the proliferation of firearms and their availability. More specifically, this afternoon Mountjoy Prison is currently in lock-down as a result of the discovery of a quantity of weapons in a restricted area of the prison.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Did that happen today?

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Today, as we speak. The committee has done a great deal of work on the issue and made proposals on the firearms licensing regime. The Chairman has spent a great deal of time working on the project along with Deputy McGrath. The proposed licensing authority is independent of An Garda Síochána. Will the authority be more of a consultative body rather than an administrative function for the force? Does the Commissioner believe that the new authority will speed up the licensing of firearms and ensure that we have quality control for licensed firearms that are licensed in this country? Will the initiative free up resources to allow An Garda Síochána tackle illegal firearms and weapons that are in the public domain?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

An important distinction must be made. They are two separate things. In terms of firearms licensing, the centralised authority is a very welcome initiative in so far as it will provide consistency in decision-making around the application of the granting or otherwise of firearms licences. I would not like to give the committee the impression that we are suggesting, in any way, that licensed firearms are the same.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I hope I made that distinction.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Yes, I thank the Deputy. The proliferation of what I call illegal firearms tend to be around organised crime, criminality and dissident activities. That is important to mention. The new firearms licensing regime will certainly help greatly. It does not free up a lot of Garda resources because previously, and historically, the job was done by district officers. The district officer will still have an input into the assessment of individuals but added value comes from the centralised decision-making and the consistency of same.

Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner. I have additional comments to make. On the occasion of the Commissioner's last visit to the committee I asked her a specific question and was pleased with her response. I refer to the curtailment of hours at certain stations, in particular at my local station in Malahide. At the time, she assured me that no further stations were being considered either for closure or the curtailment of hours. My next two questions stem from the matter. Is that still the case? I personally accept the rationale for the closure of a public desk in a station that is still in operation and still being used for falling in or whatever the expression is for officers on duty. Will there be a time in the future, with growth in certain communities, where An Garda Síochána envisages that such stations, which already have limited numbers, would be opened at least from a public perception point of view?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I am pleased to report that the position remains the same. There are no further intentions to close Garda stations at this point in time. As I said earlier, our focus is on ensuring that our members engage with the community and that will remain the focus.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have a question on a less serious issue. Yesterday, I met a group of senior citizens and I promised them I would ask the Commissioner and her team about cyclists and public safety. I refer to people who jump red lights and cycle on footpaths. Many disabled people and senior citizens contact me regularly about the problem. Has there been a change in attitude by the Garda about implementing the law when it comes to cyclists who break the law by cycling on footpaths, crashing through red lights thus intimidating a lot of visually impaired people, blind people and senior citizens?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Our focus is on ensuring safe road use for all road users which includes pedestrians and making sure they can safety use footpaths, particularly people who may be more frail or are impeded in some way.

Much of our focus, particularly coming into the darker evenings, is on raising awareness around that and also around cyclists and other road users to ensure they use the road safely and have consideration for other road users and pedestrians.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have a final brief question. Is there any chance that Whitehall Garda station will be reopened?

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am not sure if the Commissioner wants to respond to that.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

It has reopened but, unfortunately, not as a Garda station.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It will never again operate as a Garda station, so I take it that Garda station is gone.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have one additional question for the Commissioner. I represent County Clare which has quite a number of tourism destinations. In the past three or four years, the number of tourists visiting the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience has increased from 650,000 to 1.1 million. Similarly, the number of tourists to County Clare, particularly to the north and west of the county, has increased considerably. My question is similar Deputy Kieran O'Donnell's with respect to additional Garda numbers. Ennistymon and Kilrush were joined as a single district but the number based in Ennistymon Garda station has been considerably reduced in recent years. When the new Garda recruits come onstream, are there plans to increase the number in the Clare Garda division and specifically in the Kilrush-Ennistymon west Clare Garda division? Is there a policy within An Garda Síochána to redeploy gardaí from other districts in summer periods to areas such as west Clare when there is an increase in the number of tourists? If there is not such a policy, would the Commissioner examine having a more mobile unit within the force that could deal with the peaks in visitor numbers, which have dramatically increased?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

As I said, our allocation model is there. As resources become available, we will certainly look at the redeployment of them. As new students become available and go to areas where they can be assisted in their training, that allows us to redeploy people to other areas. To answer the Senator's question in respect of the spikes in tourism, particularly on special occasions or if events are happening, we have plans in place to deal with those. The local chief superintendent and the regional commissioner would ensure there are enough resources to deploy to meet those requirements.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Both gentleman are doing an excellent job. When the information on the additional resources becomes available, it might be made available to us through the secretariat.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I call Senator Bacik.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have a brief question, prompted by what Deputy Finian McGrath said. As a committed cyclist, I would like to put in a word for ensuring that road safety laws are implemented to ensure safety for all road users, particularly vulnerable road users such as cyclists. The Garda cyclist unit is very successful. Are there any plans to increase the number of gardaí on bicycles, particularly in urban centres? It is great to see community gardaí on bicycles.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Yes. It has been tremendously successful, as the Senator said. People like to see them, particularly in densely populated areas. As part of the investment that has been made, we have purchased 100 new bicycles. It is our intention that they will be deployed to the various areas. It is part of our visibility in the community. We have got feedback from the community on this initiative. Communities like it and it is a great way of the gardaí engaging with the people. Our members also like it as a method of engaging with the community because they are very agile and can respond very quickly. This is a very good initiative.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was following the Commissioner's contribution on the monitor. I thank the Chairman for allowing me to contribute.

Ar dtús, I commend the Commissioner on her proactive leadership and on taking up her role. To be fair to her, she has been a very steadying and a reassuring influence. She has been successful in giving the citizen, the person at home, a sense of confidence through her management and her team. That was exemplified also by Assistant Commissioner John O'Mahony who, along with the Chairman and myself, attended the policing forum in Cork recently, at which there was very good engagement. That is more of what we need to be doing in terms of building that relationship, through the policing fora, with local authorities but also with citizens.

Some people have criticised Operation Thor. What is the Commissioner's view of those criticisms? Does she consider they are justified? Is she satisfied with the operation? I acknowledge that Chief Superintendent Finn, the team in Anglesea Street in Cork and others do a great job. Are there specific plans to change how the night time economy is policed in our cities, particularly in Cork city? I refer to people drink driving and young people's use of alcohol. I was surprised and delighted to see a Garda checkpoint at 7 p.m. on my way to the chambers of commerce dinner in the Burlington Hotel. It was fantastic to see that. Some criticisms I have heard, and which I am sure the Commissioner has heard, is that people do not see enough checkpoints, surveillance on the ground or Garda presence.

I am on all the policing forums in Cork and have raised at all of them the point that we need to have a much more proactive approach to drink driving. I am curious to know if there has been a decrease in the number of on-the-spot detection manned checkpoints. There is a sense that there is not that many of them. I was out over the weekend of the jazz festival in Cork and I did not see any checkpoint. I am just curious about that.

Is it the case that in areas where Garda stations have closed, the incidence of crime has increased? I thank the Commissioner's and the force for the work they do. I see what they do everyday. I pay tribute to them and I sympathise with the Commissioner and all her staff on the death of Garda Golden.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has raised a number of questions with the Commissioner.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I thank the Deputy for his comments. I will respond to his last comment first. I thank him for his sympathy and condolences and I will certainly ensure they are passed on. The testament to the men and women of An Garda Síochána and the work they do all the time, particularly in recent months, bearing in mind that members of the force were being criticised every day for much of the work that they tirelessly do, is that they continue to manage and maintain their focus. All our members are out 24-7, 365 days a year ensuring that they implement all the new initiatives around victims and show their commitment to the cultural renewal we spoke about earlier and ensuring they engage in the community in a very meaningful way. That is a testament to all the men and women of An Garda Síochána and all the civilian people who support us that the confidence in An Garda Síochána has changed in that short space of time. That does not mean that we are complacent about it. What we want to do is build on that. I thank the Deputy and his colleagues for their positive comments because it means a lot to all our people.

Operation Thor is a very thought-out intelligence-led operation. There are a number of strands to it and first and foremost the focus has been on preventing crime from happening in the first place. Operations such as this are resource intensive. The money invested has given us more than 100,000 additional patrolling hours. That means that our people can be visible in communities throughout the length and breadth of the country. It is early days in the operation and the indications are early but in the past ten days alone, there have been more than 30 arrests. Some of those have been in areas such as Donegal, Carrickmacross, in various areas in the southern region and in Dublin. Very significant interventions and disruptions in terms of crime prevention have been made and significant amounts of property have been recovered. To answer the Deputy's question, I am confident it will be an effective operation. It is multi-stranded. Next week we will start our awareness and education campaign by putting messages out online and through various media outlets on raising awareness about what we can do and working in co-operation and collaboration with the community. These are simple crime prevention initiatives that will help people, particularly coming into the darker nights.

We will see success with this. We have had some significant interventions, albeit very early. We will monitor it very closely.

We are very conscious of the night-time economy. Senator Bacik asked about the mountain bikes, and these prove very useful for policing the night-time economy in some urban centres, as the Senator just mentioned. One of the big difficulties with policing the night-time economy is that it is very resource-intensive. Improvements in the economy are very positive, but they also means challenges in terms of policing because people are socialising more. One of the difficulties for us is that it is very complex, and, no more than the drugs issue about which we spoke earlier, it is a health and social policy issue. People drink before coming out to socialise. Younger men and women partake in in-house drinking before they go out, so sometimes our members encounter people who are intoxicated before they even go out for their night out. We are very focused on measures such as checkpoints, which were mentioned. It is not so much to try to catch people but to create awareness about safe road use and ensuring people are responsible in their behaviour. We want to extend this to people being responsible in their behaviour in social interactions. The use of alcohol is one of our concerns. In-house drinking and the volume of alcohol consumed before people go out in public and to nightclubs is very difficult to police.

With regard to the closure of Garda stations, the issue is having people to engage with the community. Operation Thor will be very beneficial to us in this regard. It is focused on high-visibility and high-impact engagement with the community, working in partnership with the community and creating awareness of how we can work together, particularly in conjunction with schemes such as neighbourhood watch and community alert, as well as the IFA and Muintir na Tíre, and creating social cohesion.

James Heffernan (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The last time the Garda Commissioner came before the committee I asked her whether the Provisional IRA existed. It has since come to pass after various incidents that the organisation's existence has been confirmed. Does the Commissioner have information about a formal disbandment of the Provisional IRA structures? Is she aware of this? It is my contention that no criminal organisation, be it the Provisional IRA or any other organised crime gang, would walk into a bank in the morning and open an account in its name. For all moneys made through very lucrative operations, particularly in the Border areas, the accounts are always held in trust by individual members and the organisation still benefits financially from this. Is this still the case, in the Garda Commissioner's opinion?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

The Senator is aware that since our last meeting the Minister asked for a comprehensive refreshed assessment to be done. We keep our assessments on the activities of various groups under constant review. In this instance we were asked by the Minister to conduct a fresh assessment, and we certainly worked very closely and maintained very close liaisons with our colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, particularly on any evidence emerging in the wake of certain murders in Northern Ireland. Our assessment was very comprehensive. We employed a robust methodology, including bringing together all of our assistant commissioners and various senior investigative officers.

We base our assessments on hard facts, credible intelligence and emerging evidence, and we employed a very robust methodology based on these factors. We took a reference point of November 2010. It is very important at the outset to state that this is a very complex area. As we said at the last meeting, which is consistent with the findings of the Independent Monitoring Commission, IMC, neither the IMC nor An Garda Síochána has said the IRA has disbanded. Our assessment is in the public domain, in terms of our commitment to tackling criminality and terrorism in all its forms irrespective of the background of the individuals involved.

To answer the question directly, we looked at the number of persons who had been associated with the Provisional IRA who were charged before the Special Criminal Court during the period of time we examined. It is indicative of the input and resources dedicated to it that 70 persons were charged before the Special Criminal Court with a variety of terrorist offences. Of the persons charged, 33 had been associated with the Provisional IRA. It is important to state those persons were charged in their capacity as either dissident republicans or acting individually in a terrorist capacity.

We also looked at the issue of the proceeds of crime. It is worthy of note that since the inception of the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, 50 persons associated with the Provisional IRA have been served with a variety of tax assessments, totalling an amount of €28 million, which has been surrendered to the Exchequer. These are important points to note in terms of the level of activity.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are almost two hours into this meeting and people are coming late to put questions, which is fair enough. There has been much misrepresentation of a letter sent by the Commissioner to me. In fairness to her, at no stage did she state that the IRA does not exist, either in that letter or at any stage orally or in written form, and it is important to put this on the record. I disagree with any assessment that suggests that the Provisional IRA continues to exist. I believe it left the scene ten years ago. This is my view and the view of my party, but the Garda Commissioner has never expressed this view. It is important to put this on the record. My opinion is that her assessment is pretty much in line with the assessment of the PSNI, and I cannot understand any of the criticism she has received from the Senator or some aspects of our media. It is preposterous to suggest that a Garda Commissioner who has led the crime and security division of An Garda Síochána, as she recently noted in her assessment, and who has lost members of her force, tragically, sadly and regrettably for me as a republican, to the IRA in the past would in any way condone willingly the ongoing activities, as has been alleged. It is preposterous. These are my comments on the matter.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Forensic marking is in use in the UK and other countries. Is it being looked at as a tool to track individuals and stolen property and to prevent crime, and what is the Commissioner's view of it?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

We have looked at it. We have an initiative, Theft Stop, under way with the IFA, which looks at forensic marking. One of the issues with our successes is the amount of property we have recovered which, unfortunately, we cannot reunite with its owners. It is a very useful mechanism and we would welcome opportunities to explore with other bodies.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I believe what the Commissioner referred to is Farm Watch. Are there ways of measuring morale in the Garda Síochána? People state from time to time that morale is not very good or is very good. Will the Commissioner comment on this? It is an important matter. She mentioned it earlier in her statement.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

It is a most important issue because our assets are our people, and the asset to the community is the commitment and morale of the men and women of An Garda Síochána. To reiterate, it is a testament to the strength and resilience of the men and women of An Garda Síochána that despite all of the constraints and the reductions in manpower and resources they remain steadfast in their commitment, and the results speak for themselves. The commitment of the people who have served in An Garda Síochána and those coming on to serve in An Garda Síochána has never waned. They are willing to work 24-7, 365 days a year. It is certainly a boost for the morale of the community and our members to see recruitment beginning again. Everybody likes to see new gardaí coming to local communities and stations.

The new fleet and technology are of significant help as well. We look forward to that continuing.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With respect to the new vehicles, is it at the Commissioner’s discretion as to how she spends the budget on, say, high-powered vehicles?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Yes, it is. We have a transport sub-committee chaired by Mr. Dónall Ó Cualáin. There is input on the make and type of vehicles for the force. With the additional investment, we are now able to invest in public order vans and different types of van that give high visibility and also capability. There are also pushbikes and motorcycles to ensure there is a mixed fleet. There is also a mixed fleet for cars, with the addition, most recently, of high-powered cars to support our regional support units.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In relation to the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, is the Commissioner satisfied that it is resourced sufficiently?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

CAB plays a significant role in following the money and the proceeds of crime. We have divisional profilers right through the division. Any increase in CAB’s resources would be very welcome. We use a multi-agency approach. On Senator Paul Coghlan’s earlier question, we are looking specifically at the proceeds of crime around the Border area. We are working closely with our colleagues in the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection as to how we might enhance that.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the Commissioner agree that it is always important to report crime? Now and again, people say it is not worth reporting a crime because nothing will happen.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Yes. Next week when we do our awareness campaign, one of the elements of it will be encouraging people to report crime. We will also be giving the public and community the assurance that crime that is reported will be fully investigated and they will be fully supported throughout the whole system.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All crime or attempted crime should be reported to the local Garda station.

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Absolutely.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The tracking of crime is also another issue that comes up time and again. In other jurisdictions, victims can make contact with the police officer to find out where an investigation is at. Is this in place here? For example, can someone e-mail a local Garda station in such circumstances?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

It is a work in progress. We are looking at a specific initiative called Track My Crime which is in place in other jurisdictions. Currently, the victim service office is the dedicated point of contact, with a dedicated e-mail available. This is made available through the victim support groups to individuals.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

With the advent of new gardaí, every so often we get requests about a garda who would like to transfer. How many gardaí have applied for transfers? Will it be easier to manage with more gardaí coming on stream?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

I do not have the number off the top of my head but we can get the number of applications for transfers. One of the frustrations for members of An Garda Síochána who have been assigned away from home is looking to get closer to home for a variety of reasons, including domestic reasons. With the input of the new students, it will make it much easier. There is a mechanism for prioritising transfers for individual members. We work very closely with the representative associations on that. The associations will alert us to any individual cases.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It would be remiss of us not to comment on the Garda Reserve. Will the Commissioner gives an idea of how it is going?

Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

It is going well and has been successful. At the moment, we have just under 1,000 reserves in situ. The reserve is very important and has an interesting representation of people from Albania to Zimbabwe. We have a number of different countries and perspectives represented on the force. It brings good diversity. We are focused on reigniting the recruitment campaign for the Garda Reserve, ensuring we reach into hard-to-reach communities to encourage people to join the reserve to build the trust and confidence in An Garda Síochána, and, hopefully, give people an insight so that they will come and join the full-time organisation.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Commissioner and her team. It has been a fairly intensive two hours. The committee expressed its condolences on the recent tragic events involving the force. We thank the Commissioner and her members for all the work they do on behalf of the citizens, putting themselves on the line day and night to keep us safe. We wish her well. We support the work done by the Garda Síochána. This has been a really useful and positive meeting. I am told it is on live television, so I am sure many people are watching. I hope people will be reassured by the Commissioner’s comments and disengagement.