James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy stated, 2022 will mark the centenary year of An Garda Síochána. The foundation of the organisation is one of the key events recommended for appropriate commemoration by the expert advisory group on commemorations as part of phase 2 of the decade of centenaries programme.

A centenary committee, chaired by a senior garda, has been established to co-ordinate the commemorations within the organisation. To date, two significant events have been planned.

The first, which will take place on 7 February 2022, will commemorate the meeting at the Gresham Hotel in Dublin of a committee which decided to form the Civic Guard, which would later be renamed An Gárda Síochána under section 22 of the Gárda Síochána (Temporary Provisions) Act 1923. The second event, which is due to take place on 21 August 2022, will commemorate the "storming of Dublin Castle" by the then Garda Commissioner on 17 August 1922, when the Civic Guard took control of Dublin Castle.

I understand that further plans are currently under consideration. These include digitisation of historic Garda materials to make them publically available online, including a photographic exhibition; localised exhibitions and events to commemorate the centenary of An Garda Síochána throughout 2022; the issuing of a commemorative ribbon and coin for personnel working during the centenary year; the extension of the Garda Museum for additional exhibitions; and the publication of a commemorative book.

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