Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I would be grateful if the Minister would confirm whether such stipulations exist. Will he confirm that there is a requirement within the code whereby a garda shall not live within ten miles of a relative? The definition of "relative" not only includes siblings but extends to cover cousins. Will he further confirm that if a garda marries, he or she may not live within ten miles of his or her spouse's relatives? Such restrictions relate more to the barracks life of a garda in the 1920s than to the reality of 21st century Ireland.

I am at a loss as to how to proceed further with this question. All I hear from the Minister is a complete rebuttal of what I believe to be a very reasonable request regarding the operating methods of the Garda. Gardaí operate under conditions of great stress and their operating manual should be dragged into the 21st century. I would be grateful if the Minister would consider putting into the public domain a copy of the code under which gardaí operate.

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