Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am raising an issue reported in the Irish Examineron Saturday, 17 June, by Sean O'Riordan, an eminent journalist. The article states:

More than 80 garda detectives are to stop providing armed cover on a 24/7 basis in the Cork region amid claims they have been left vulnerable by garda management's refusal to give them proper training and equipment to tackle gangland crime or terrorist attacks.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has told garda management, that, from July 1, detectives will no longer provide armed cover around-the-clock, which is likely to lead to gaps in service provision at certain times of the night.

Since 2011 the GRA has been seeking the same training and equipment for Cork-based garda detectives as has been given to the Special Detective Unit in Dublin, whose members are equipped with bullet-proof shields [and firearms training]. That unit was issued with the shields so they could provide armed cover when the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) was not working in the Dublin area.

The GRA call for the same shields to be issued in Cork was sparked a few years ago by an incident in the Minane Bridge area, 25 km south of Cork City, when a uniformed garda risked his life to save three children by taking off his bullet-proof jacket and using it to shield them from a man who was shooting at him and his colleagues.

There is a need to ensure that gardaí have proper bulletproof vests and training. There is now a situation whereby, potentially, there could be no armed cover in Cork city and county. The detectives not only provide armed cover in those areas but have also attended incidents in Kerry and south Tipperary. It is very serious if our detectives are not getting the same training and equipment as their colleagues in Dublin. We have a duty to ensure that An Garda Síochána is given the resources, capabilities and training to deal with any events officers might confront, particularly where firearms are involved and where there is a threat to both gardaí and broader society. Gardaí are fighting criminal gangs and others with poor equipment and a lack of training.

The more than 80 detectives in the Cork city division have informed the management that from 1 July they will not provide 24-7 armed cover because, in their view, continuing to do so would breach the working time directive and health and safety legislation. I urge the Minister to intervene to ensure this training, proper firearms and bulletproof shields are provided. The chair and vice-chair of the joint policing committee in Cork county have also raised this. It must be addressed. I would appreciate if the Minister could give a detailed response on what he intends to do and, more importantly, what Garda management intends to do to ensure members of the force have all the resources required to protect the public.

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