Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute on the Bill.

I want first to congratulate the Minister, Deputy Harris, and his wife, Caoimhe, on the arrival of their son, Cillian Harris, who arrived a little earlier today. The House will, no doubt, join me in congratulating them.

This Bill facilitates a new operational model for An Garda Síochána. Given its 2015 origin and the Policing Authority's contribution to it, is a good measure. Much has been made in the last two minutes by some of the Members opposite in regard to Garda station closures. In that regard, I reiterate what I have said previously, that is, Garda stations and divisional structures are based on Victorian infrastructure, a completely different type of policing model. The Acting Chairman, Deputy Cathal Crowe, mentioned the origins of the Garda Commissioner and said that we are changing our model to replicate that which operates in the Six Counties. That is untrue, yet it follows a theme regarding matters raised by Members opposite with regard to discretion and other manifestations of clientelism not just in An Garda Síochána but across the board, where individuals such as those mentioned, that is, the monsignor and the football captain, had penalty points erased. That happens when we have local stations because gardaí and people know one another. An Garda Síochána are men and women and they will make mistakes. These issues have been given a lengthy airing in this House in the past.

Changing the model of policing from one with the lowest numbers of police officers per head of population in Europe on the basis of that Victorian model infrastructure, with divisional changes which have not taken place to any large degree in decades, is the reason we have some issues, again across the board and not just focused in An Garda Síochána. There have been many opportunities in the recent past to change the way in which policing is carried out in this country. We have done some change, but not all of it. In terms of access to justice and issues such as delays in our courts system outside of Covid, we do not have enough staff or professionals in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Chief State Solicitor's office, the Courts Service or the courts, the Judiciary and An Garda Síochána. Is it any wonder we have difficulties with access to justice?

I welcome this Bill. As a former member of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence for six years, I recognise that this will be a long process and that these changes will give An Garda Síochána the capability and authority to carry out local operations, which has to happen on a more widespread basis. I will close by thanking members of An Garda Síochána for the extraordinary work they did in the past 18 months. I thank them for their professionalism and kindness for the things they did in the first lockdown, in particular for older people, which went above and beyond their station.

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