Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I am grateful of the opportunity to raise this matter in the hope of advancing a long outstanding matter to conclusion by the end of this year. The lives of emergency services personnel are being put at risk because of the failure on the part of the Government to advance and progress the provision of a national digital radio service.

I wish, in particular, to refer to the position as it relates to the Garda Síochána. It is more than ten years since the Garda first requested a new radio communications network because its members could not communicate safely via the old network, which was then already 20 years old. On 4 February 1999, the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and current Ceann Comhairle, Deputy O'Donoghue, in reply to parliamentary questions tabled for written answer stated:

The new Garda radio network will be introduced on a phased basis over the period 2000 to 2003, at an estimated cost of £75 million to £85 million. To facilitate this ambitious replacement programme, a pilot trial of the new TETRA technology will commence this year, and the lessons learned will be usefully applied in the national replacement programme.

In 2005, his successor, former Deputy Michael McDowell, was asked when the long-promised digital radio system would arrive following a Deputy's description of how one of his constituents was burned out of his house when drug dealers listening in on the Garda analogue network heard his address being given as the source of a complaint about their suspicious activity. Very little action was taken in the aftermath of these events and further pilot projects were promised.

On 26 March 2007, Mr. McDowell, who was then Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, announced:

Tetra Ireland Ltd have been selected as the preferred bidder for the provision of the National Digital Radio Service and are currently working with An Garda Síochána and other Departments and Agencies on the rollout of the service which will be delivered in two phases:

A service performance evaluation in an area covering parts of Dublin including the Port and Airport and north into Co. Meath.

Nationwide rollout.

The emergency services have been seeking the provision of a digital radio system for many years. The old analogue system is neither secure nor reliable. However, the Tetra system has still not been rolled out nationally despite the promises made by the two previous holders of the office of Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The deficiencies of the existing analogue system are well known. Communications can be intercepted, with dangerous consequences for personnel. The radios do not always work, which has already endangered the lives of gardaí and other emergency services staff. No fewer than two pilot programmes have been rolled out in the same area of Dublin, and using the same technology, in 2001 and 2007. However, the Department of Finance has seemingly refused to progress a contract for the nationwide expansion and development of the system.

Failure to supply the Garda with up-to-date technology is tantamount to expecting it to take on sophisticated criminals with one hand tied behind its back. The absence of modern technology for the force has been highlighted by the Garda inspectorate, which expressed its concern in respect of the current situation. Regardless of whether it is cars, mobile telephones, e-mail or broadband, it is unacceptable that this matter has not been dealt with in an adequate fashion. It is also not acceptable that the project to provide a national digital radio system is to disintegrate into another billion euro over-budget fiasco at the hands of the Government, which is famous for its inability to deliver projects within budget and on time.

A spark of light appeared at the end of the tunnel during the speech on the Estimates by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who stated that progress will be made and that he has made a sum of money available to resolve this matter. I would like the Minister opposite to indicate the exact amount of money available and what has been approved. There should be no more pilot schemes. When will the Garda be provided with the new national digital radio system?

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