Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In September 2018, the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland published its report outlining a clear vision and roadmap for strengthening An Garda Síochána and the broader national framework for policing, security and community safety.  In December 2018, the Government approved A Policing Service for the Future as the plan to implement the commission's report.  The plan was developed in co-operation with stakeholders from across the public service, including, in particular, the then Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána.

In line with the approach recommended in the commission's report, an implementation group on policing reform was established in late 2018, with a former member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland as its independent chairman, and given collective responsibility for the delivery of the plan. The group has held 21 meetings to date.  To help guide its work and act as a clearing house where particular blockages are being experienced, a high-level steering board on policing reform, chaired by the Secretary General to the Government, was also established.  The policing reform implementation programme office, PRIPO, which is based in the Department of the Taoiseach, drives implementation of A Policing Service for the Future.  PRIPO has been resourced with appropriate expertise in the areas of project management, policing, justice and public service reform.  It monitors progress on the implementation of the plan, supports the work of the implementation group on policing reform and keeps the high-level steering board on policing reform and the Government apprised of the progress being made.  The Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality provides requisite political oversight of implementation of the plan.

A Policing Service for the Future is a living document which is reviewed and updated by the programme office as required.  This helps to maintain ambitious but realistic commitments, timeframes and milestones.  A Policing Service for the Future is broken down into four stages of implementation, namely, the building blocks phase, which is of six months' duration; the launching phase, which is also of six months' duration; the scaling phase, which is of 18 months' duration; and the consolidation phase, which is of 12 to 18 months' duration, as currently envisaged.  The building blocks and launching phases have been completed and have seen a number of achievements. They include the roll-out of a new operating model for An Garda Síochána, designed to streamline Garda administration and provide a more visible, responsive and localised policing service to communities nationwide. An Garda Síochána has established and strengthened resourcing of a human rights unit and re-established the strategic human rights advisory committee. The National Security Analysis Centre, NSAC, has been established.

In addition, the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2019 has been enacted, which gives gardaí access to the Workplace Relations Commission for the first time and provides for a modern industrial relations framework within An Garda Síochána.  There has also been progress on legislative reform in a number of other areas. Legislation is being drafted in the following areas: the use of recording devices, including body-worn cameras; the codification of legislation defining police powers of arrest, search and detention; and a new coherent framework for the governance and oversight of An Garda Síochána.

Progress in 2020 has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, I have been encouraged to see the responsiveness and flexibility shown by An Garda Síochána in dealing with the demands of this unprecedented situation.

The implementation group on policing reform and the programme have been actively engaged with key stakeholders to ensure continued momentum on reform insofar as possible under the current circumstances. The third phase of A Policing Service for our Future, the scaling phase, has now commenced.

See this speech in context