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

I was going to refer to that because I wanted to begin my contribution by unequivocally condemning the attack on Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell last night in Omagh. It was a cowardly attack and an attempted murder of a senior officer in front of his son and other young people, as I understand it. I am pleased, however, that the PSNI has made several arrests. I am equally pleased that our Minister is involved with his British counterpart as we speak. I know all Members of the House will join me in wishing Detective Chief Inspector Caldwell a speedy recovery and in desiring that his family be supported at this time. The attack reminds us of the fact that, despite 25 years of peace on this island, that peace is fragile and requires all our efforts to maintain and preserve it. It also reminds us of the risks members of An Garda Síochána the PSNI take every day in the course of their service to our communities.

This Bill will provide for significant changes to the method of policing in Ireland and will be a milestone when passed. I commend the Minister, his Department and his officials on their drafting of this comprehensive Bill, which reflects key recommendations stemming from the report published by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Among the changes it will introduce will be the development of a new policing oversight body, reforming the way allegations against gardaí are handled, and the introduction of a new non-executive board of An Garda Síochána. Having sat in the 31st Dáil during an especially difficult time for An Garda Síochána, particularly when it came to whistleblowers and allegations about this, that and the other, which matters found their way into this House, the Committee of Public Accounts and indeed the justice committee over the years, I believe it is important to continually reform the methods of oversight, not just of An Garda Síochána but also of all State institutions.

These changes will modernise the operating structures within the organisation and bring gardaí closer to how other public bodies operate. The changes will ultimately allow for an enhanced mechanism to aid in the governance of the Garda. They will allow for a more dynamic model of organisation for members at all levels while, I hope, striking a balance between oversight and support – for example, through the non-executive board – and not overreaching or interfering in security operations. In particular, I welcome the new office of community safety, which will support local community safety partnerships and facilitate what I hope will be an improvement on the joint policing committees. These local partnerships will allow for tailored responses to issues affecting individual communities – an important step in the efforts to prevent and tackle crime. These will, I hope, build momentum behind our goal of delivering stronger and safer communities.

The Minister rightly recognised in his opening remarks yesterday that a large amount of Garda time is spent on matters not related to crime, including responding to events involving mental health issues. It is appropriate that resources be given to members of the Garda and that they have the means and support from other State bodies to deal adequately with these circumstances. This should include a greater linkage between the Garda and the relevant service providers, such as addiction services, mental health services, and healthcare providers. I hope that in the months and years ahead, we will improve the supports we provide to members of An Garda Síochána at an individual level. As a member of the justice committee from 2011, I believe continuous professional development and support courses for members of the Garda are imperative.

The professionalisation and civilianisation of the force are very important, but equipping individual gardaí with the tools they require to do the best job possible in our communities is almost as important as the structural changes we hope to make to the force itself. Therefore, we should provide greater resources for mental health supports, peer support networks and other mechanisms so as to recognise the impact that the work of gardaí can have on their personal well-being.

This is underscored by several high-profile attacks on members of An Garda Síochána in recent months. We must never allow these attacks to become regular or to be tolerated as part of the job. An attack on the Garda is an attack on the State itself and all its citizens. It must not have a justification, and the perpetrators of such crimes should face the full rigour of the law each and every time.

We are living in a time when a small minority is emboldened with a sense of impunity, and this manifests in acts of antisocial behaviour, the targeting of minority communities and, as I have mentioned, attacks on An Garda Síochána. This is a societal problem, one that requires a response from the whole of society. It is not just the job of the Government, Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, local authorities or gardaí themselves because the issue is a societal one with a societal solution.

We have seen the emboldening of certain groups, including gangland actors, who feel they operate on a different legal plain from the rest of us. Let there be no doubt that the Government will support An Garda Síochána in its efforts to crack down on criminal gangs and all those who participate in their activities.

In my remaining time, I want to touch upon a matter that many Members are raising, namely having gardaí available on the beat, on the street, in their communities.

We must ensure that the ever-increasing numbers in An Garda Síochána nationwide are reflected on our streets. The constant churn and fluctuation in certain communities is extremely problematic because local knowledge and personal contact and relationships are hugely important assets for individual members of An Garda Síochána.

Unfortunately, as policing needs are identified in certain communities, other communities suffer a reduction in numbers. This can have a detrimental effect, not just in terms of the statistics but also in terms of how safe people feel in their homes. That is particularly applicable to older communities or where older individuals are living.

As part of this Bill, it is ever more important that we emphasise the continuity with An Garda Síochána. How members are allocated and retained in communities should really form a core part of our mission for the future of An Garda Síochána.

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