Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I send John Caldwell my best wishes for his recovery. Our thoughts are with him and his family.

At a meeting of the Committee on Public Petitions last April we were joined by representatives of GSOC. During their contribution the chairperson recognised the level of changes this Bill provides for, especially in the composition and mandate of GSOC. It was noted at the time that, following on from the Bill, what is planned to replace GSOC, the office of the police ombudsman, will have additional powers and functions. The increasing complexity of cases was pointed out, as was the fact that a particular challenge faced is not only in constantly replenishing staff but also in getting staff who have the specialist expertise needed. That is a challenge the wording of a Bill alone cannot resolve. It is a matter of engagement, recruitment plans, the attractiveness of positions advertised and, ultimately, how this Bill is put into effect once finalised.

It was also noted that adequate technological backup will be needed if the Bill is to be fit for purpose. Such are the complexities of carrying out investigations in a world where technological advancements, both commercial and civilian, are progressing so quickly. If we are to address the many concerns we have heard about as regards lengthy investigation times, addressing those shortfalls must be a priority.

I would like to find out more about the establishment of the national community safety steering group and the national office for community safety. We have seen local areas fearful of criminal and antisocial activities. Gardaí are doing their very best, but the flow of information from the gardaí to the communities and vice versais crucial in delivering clarity on issues and not leaving concerns open to misinterpretation or vulnerable to misinformation. I note the comments the Minister made yesterday on Part 3 of the Bill in which he spoke of the various strands of community engagement. There is a lot here, and there is potential for a lot of good here. I would be interested to see the finer details that will emerge as to how these bodies will function, their remit and the type of community engagement that will come out of this. If this is to be a success, we need to go back to real community policing, whereby a garda is left in a community long enough to build up a relationship with it and trust can be built up between both.

I wish to point out the need for a particular focus on rural crime and farmyard theft. Rural communities face enough challenges at the moment with changes to farming practices. They must be protected from further financial obstacles through a focus from top to bottom on rural communities and the protection of rural businesses, including farms and agricultural contractors, from the targeting we have seen in recent times.

I appreciate the roll-out of the property marking scheme. It is one important measure to take. Given the increased costs of doing business right now, however, I call on the Minister to ensure that an adequate focus on farms and the rural communities they keep going will be given particular attention as these community strategies are devised.

Finally, there is the matter of civilian staff. Civilian staff have expressed concerns to me as to how the proposed changes may affect their work conditions and entitlements. There is dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation with unions on this matter and what is seen as the unilateral imposition of these changes. Civilian staff fear that their terms and conditions of employment will be changed by legislation without proper agreement or negotiation with their union, Fórsa. This cannot be left unaddressed by the Minister like it has been to date. I call on the Minister to engage with staff and unions further and to heed their fears and concerns.

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