Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2013. I compliment my colleagues on the Opposition benches who have introduced this Bill and given Deputies an opportunities to debate this subject. I honestly believe the Bill is premature, however, given that a review of the operations of the Garda Síochána will be held on foot of the Haddington Road agreement. Those conducting the review are to report back by 1 June 2014. I do not know what is to be feared from listening to what all the stakeholders, including the Garda Síochána, have to say on this matter. It is important for us to listen to them.

As a public representative who came through the ranks at county council and Seanad Éireann levels before being elected to the Dáil, I cannot understand why we are so anxious to divest ourselves of power. Why do we want to place our accountability in the hands of a board? I would equate this to the decision to establish the HSE some years ago. The HSE was used by successive Ministers to hide from responsibility and accountability. I am sure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle experienced this. The existence of the HSE allowed Ministers who did not want to come in here to answer parliamentary questions to say that the matters about which they were asked were the responsibility of the HSE.

The establishment of another statutory board would be a retrograde step for us as public representatives. The necessary resources should be put into the services, statutory bodies and Garda structures that are in place at the moment, including the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. They should be beefed up and they should be accountable. The public has an opportunity every so often to decide on the fate of its public representatives, who should be held accountable for what goes on.

I passionately believe that the operation of the Garda Síochána should be a matter for the structures that are in place at present. I refer to the Garda Commissioner or chief executive officer, the deputy commissioner, the assistant commissioners, the chief superintendents, the superintendents, the local sergeants and the local gardaí. The only way to protect public confidence in the Garda Síochána, which is fundamental for the force, is to ensure the public and the elected representatives continue to have a relationship with the Garda Síochána and to have an opportunity to discuss matters with the Garda authorities as they arise. In a broad church like the Garda Síochána, which has over 13,300 members at present, there are bound to be difficulties and individuals who fall by the wayside. At the previous speaker said, the members of the force are people of the utmost calibre and the highest integrity, by and large. The gardaí themselves probably represent the best regulator the force can have.

When we speak about public confidence in the Garda Síochána, it is worth noting that almost everyone in the general public has a family member - a brother, sister or cousin - or a close friend in the force. The Garda Síochána and the general public are a closely-knit community. The force has never been found wanting when somebody has fallen by the wayside. It has prosecuted its own members. While I accept that people have the right to complain, there needs to be a balance in this situation as well. Members of the force need to be protected. Many unsubstantiated claims have been made by the general public against the Garda for one reason or another. When these claims pile up, it takes some time to have them heard. Such delays can have a profound effect on the stature of the garda in question, on his work and on his health. We need to put in place a system that upholds the right of the general public to complain and ensures the person who makes the complaint is also held accountable. Perhaps some kind of bond system can be considered.

When the Minister for Justice and Equality visited the Garda College in Templemore during the week, I was delighted to hear him announce that recruitment to the college will recommence in the coming months. It is a testament to the attractiveness of the job of gardaí, and indeed to the level of public confidence in the force, that over 27,000 people have expressed an interest in joining the Garda Síochána. That figure is expected to increase twofold or threefold when newspaper advertisements are published because of the level of interest on the part of those who want to join the force. That is a testament to the confidence of the general public in the Garda Síochána. It is also an indication of how popular the job is, how keen people are to serve their country and how willing they are to protect the citizens of this State.

I would like to avail of this opportunity to acknowledge the role that has been played by members of the Garda Síochána based at the Garda College in Templemore. Many people were negative about the college while it was closed. They said it would never open again, or that this or that would happen. The management of the college provided various in-service and other courses to keep the college going over the last two or three years, which have been quite difficult. I could never see that happening if we had an independent body. It would probably have closed the place down until recruitment recommenced. I pay tribute to the chief superintendent who is in charge down there. I would also like to mention Assistant commissioner Fintan Fanning, who had direct responsibility for it. Chief Superintendent Clancy and Superintendent Pat Dunne in Templemore kept it going as well. Great credit is due to all of them. It augurs well for the future of the force that recruitment is recommencing.

We can expect an intake of student gardaí into the Garda College in Templemore in early 2014. That will allay some of the concerns that have been expressed tonight. After spending 33 weeks in the college, those students will be attested and will become gardaí in their own right. When they are dispersed throughout the country, they will add to the ability of the Garda Síochána to deliver a service to the community, particularly in those rural areas about which we are so concerned. I look forward to that day. I remind the House that the Garda College in Templemore will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014.

I welcome the open debate on this Bill and the many suggestions that are being made. While I acknowledge the sincerity of Opposition Deputies, I believe it is premature of them to have introduced this Bill at this time. We should wait for the review to see what the people have said.

It is also important to hear what members of An Garda Síochána have to say. The ultimate responsibility for the operations of An Garda Síochána should lie with the Garda management. It should not be subject to any board or, as the Opposition has noted, any political interference. The function of the Government is to provide the necessary budget to allow An Garda Síochána to operate effectively and efficiently. That is what we wish for.

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