Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Garda Siochana (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage

 

4:30 pm

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

One of the reasons Irish independence succeeded was that we were able to establish an independent police force very quickly after we got independence and that police force secured the support and consent of the Irish public it policed. That was a major achievement of the State. Other countries that gained their independence did not always manage to transfer power to a police force that operated in a non-partisan manner. An Garda Síochána did that. We are now coming towards the centenary of An Garda Síochána. We also need to recognise that when the new force was established, it inherited many of the procedures that were in place in the RIC and the Dublin Metropolitan Police. The old districts were always the form upon which policing was to be carried out. I welcome the fact that the legislation we are discussing today is going to change that because there is no doubt but that the procedures and structures within An Garda Síochána require reform. The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended a new operating model for An Garda Síochána, and the Garda Inspectorate recommended a new structure for it, and I am pleased to say that back in 2019, the Garda Commissioner recognised that and announced a new operating model.

For too long there have been situations in Garda districts and stations where superintendents' time is taken up filling out forms or signing documents, or being forced to fulfil statutory obligations placed on them by legislation enacted by the Oireachtas. According to the Schedule to this Bill, the purpose of the legislation we are enacting is to transfer responsibility away from superintendents in districts to inspectors or other superintendents who do not have to be from that district. I welcome that but we need to recognise the purpose of us doing this. What is the reason the Garda Commissioner recommends that we introduce and implement a new Garda operating model? The reason is so we can have more gardaí on the streets. The reason is so that Garda policing can be done in a more efficient and effective way. Obviously, there are a limited number of gardaí we can hire at any particular time. Every Member in this House would like to see much higher numbers in An Garda Síochána. We need to recognise that we have a responsibility to ensure the gardaí we have are used more efficiently. We all recognise and see the importance of community policing and the community garda in our community. In order to see more of that, we need to change the operating model in order that a higher proportion of the force can be on the streets. I represent an inner-city part of Dublin and I would like to see more gardaí on the streets. While the level of crime sometimes can be represented as being higher than it is, there is a problem in Dublin at present with antisocial behaviour and crime. It may be as a consequence of the pandemic and the limitations imposed on people. The public want to see, as do I and every Member of this House, more gardaí on the street engaging with community policing. The presence of gardaí on our streets has a much more effective impact than simply deterring criminals from committing crimes. It also has the impact of making people in society feel safer. That is something which we all wish to ensure occurs in the future.

I welcome the legislation and I hope to play a part in the debate on Committee Stage. This is an important part of the reform process of An Garda Síochána that has been recommended for nearly five years.

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