Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I appreciate the Minister's response, he has not answered my simple question. Is the statement by the Garda Representative Association that up to 50% of members of An Garda Síochána do not have the training qualification that would enable them to engage in high-speed chases correct? I and other Deputies have asked this question of the Department numerous times but for some reason it will not give an answer, other than to provide the partial answer given previously, namely, that 2,700 gardaí have completed CBD level 2 training since 2009. We need to know the reason for the withholding of this information. While this is a serious matter, I cannot understand that it would be a matter of such sensitivity that the detail could not be placed in the public domain. Members of the public are entitled to be confident that members of An Garda Síochána are sufficiently trained and qualified to engage in high-speed chases.

The Minister is correct and I accept that not every member of An Garda Síochána needs to be involved in high-speed chases or to engage in driving duties. However, we must ensure a sufficient percentage of members of the force are qualified to do so. As we know from experience, issues arise immediately for An Garda Síochána that require urgent involvement of a Garda car.

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