Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. An Garda Síochána is a community police service with strong links to the communities it serves, built on a culture of policing by consent.  Over the last century, from the turbulent years of the Civil War and through the devastating years of the Troubles, the Garda has remained a largely unarmed police service.  The resolve and vision set out by the first Garda Commissioner, Michael Staines, that An Garda Síochána would succeed "not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people" is as true today as it was 100 years ago.  That An Garda Síochána has remained unarmed is a tribute to the organisation and to the Irish people.  A deep connection to community and a commitment to service is embedded in the culture of An Garda Síochána and is something the organisation is rightly proud of.  The Commissioner is committed to ensuring the organisation continues to evolve to remain representative of all the diverse communities it serves.

  That said, it is undoubtedly the case that gardaí operate in often dangerous environments and it is important that they have the equipment they need to do their jobs safely, not to mention effectively.  Units such as the emergency response unit and the armed response units are central to the Garda response to serious crime and are trained and equipped accordingly. I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the health and safety of gardaí is of paramount and ongoing importance to him. It is clearly imperative that Garda members are issued with appropriate equipment for their duties. To ensure this, there is a constant review by Garda authorities of all operational and protective equipment, including the use of tasers and other incapacitants.

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