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

As the Deputy will be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, which was enacted by the Houses of the Oireachtas last year, is yet to be commenced. I intend to commence it shortly. The new Act continues to honour Ireland’s commitments under the existing 2002 agreement between the Irish and British Governments on police co-operation. When the Act is commenced, section 94 will allow the Garda Commissioner, at the request of the Chief Constable of the PSNI, to appoint a member of the PSNI as a member of An Garda Síochána on secondment for a period of not more than three years.

My Department is preparing regulations to facilitate, in line with the 2002 agreement, serving PSNI members who have served at or above the rank of inspector for a minimum period of two years to be eligible to enter competitions for appointment to the rank of superintendent in Garda Síochána. These regulations will also provide that serving PSNI members who have served at the rank of superintendent or above for a minimum period of two years will be able to enter competitions for appointment to the rank of chief superintendent or assistant Garda commissioner in the Garda Síochána.

The Deputy raised specifically section 50 of the Act. In order that other Members will be aware, section 50 provides for the continuation of certain powers of the Commissioner to appoint persons to ranks below superintendent as currently set out in section 14 of the 2005 Garda Síochána Act. Section 50 will ensure the Commissioner can continue to exercise these functions, while also ensuring the continuation of service of any person appointed under the current provisions.

There is currently no provision for the direct transfer or promotion on a permanent basis of serving PSNI officers at the rank of sergeant or below into An Garda Síochána. This position will, in consultation with my United Kingdom and Northern Ireland counterparts, be kept under review. I thank the Deputy for the question.

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