Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the recent report of An Garda Síochána Inspectorate on resource allocation; if he will implement the recommendations contained in this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5804/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána Inspectorate was established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and forms a key part of the arrangements which the Government has put in place to support the Garda Síochána in pursuing best policing practice across the range of its functions. This report was mandated by my predecessor and I welcome its findings. It is the sixth such report and its focus is on the allocation of Garda resources.

The best international police forces undergo a continual process of development and improvement and the Garda Síochána has engaged in a major programme of reform in recent years including in the use of technology. The reports of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate are an important part of that process and have been very supportive of the reforms underway in the force. As part of that ongoing process, the Garda Commissioner and his management team have enthusiastically implemented the majority of recommendations contained in the previous inspectorate reports and will continue to do so. Progress in implementing the recommendations is updated regularly on the websites of both the force and the inspectorate.

This report contains many positive recommendations on how the fluctuating demand for policing services can be better measured and how Garda resources can be efficiently deployed to meet that demand. Key to this will be the use of technology, such as command and control, computer-aided dispatch, and human resource, HR, systems and the introduction of new and more effective roster systems. The aim is to maximise the number of frontline gardaí in the right place at the right time, building on the significant investment recently made in Garda technology and resources.

These are significant and welcome recommendations which should be of significant assistance to the Garda Commissioner and his team as they build on recent progress in making maximum use of resources. Garda management already has a series of well-developed proposals for many of the key initiatives envisaged in the report, such as a new command and control system, a new computer-aided despatch system and a new human resource management system. This ambitious programme builds on the recent and unprecedented investment in Garda technology which has seen the new national digital radio service being rolled out across the force, a new automated fingerprint and ballistics identification system, a new automated number plate recognition system and significant enhancements to the Pulse system. In all, investment in Garda ICT programmes is currently running at approximately €70 million per year and in this coming year, it is estimated to be more than €80 million.

I welcome the report and will fully support the Garda Commissioner as he continues to implement and expand a wide-ranging programme of reform which effectively addresses the issues identified in it.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Does the Minister agree this is a very disturbing report on the operational condition of the Garda Síochána? It paints a picture, albeit in polite language, of a police force as it might have operated in 1950s Ireland in terms of management techniques, deployment of manpower, absence of technology, rostering systems, the failure of the civilianisation effort and so on. Law-abiding citizens must be horrified at what is revealed in this report by the Garda inspectorate. What is the Minister's response to the statement by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors that most Garda stations do not even have e-mail facilities? Does the Minister agree with the 27 recommendations in this report? If so, will he indicate a timeframe for their implementation?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to the Deputy's question on e-mail capabilities, Internet facilities are available at 347 network locations within the Garda Síochána. Moreover, internal e-mail facilities are provided to all ranks of the force via the PULSE environment. As I said, there has been a dramatic increase in the degree of usage of information and communications technologies by gardaí, with investment running at €70 million per year and more than €80 million expected to be invested in 2010. Last year, as part of this investment, €23 million was expended on the national digital radio system and €1.1 million on the automated fingerprinting system.

I do not agree with Deputy Rabbitte that the report in question points to the Garda as a force embedded in the 1950s. That is not so. The Government and the Oireachtas must be given credit for putting in place, in 2005, the infrastructure to ensure the Garda could be benchmarked against best international practice. That is what this report is about. There will always be improvements to implement and scope for the allocation of additional resources. When I became Minister in this Department just under two years ago, I made it one of my primary objectives that priority be given to investment in the Garda, in prisons and in the criminal justice system, regardless of what else was happening with the Department's budget. I stand on my record in that regard. The Estimates for this year and last indicate an investment in the Garda Síochána of €1.6 billion, which is a record.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I do not ask this question in any spirit of confrontation. The view I have outlined is that of the Garda inspectorate, as set out in this serious review, and there is no point in trying to whitewash it. The Minister should not try to dodge the question about how many Garda stations have e-mail by referring to network connections.

I draw the Minister's attention to the number of gardaí who are tied up in duties that could be done by civilians. The civilianisation programme has been used only to recruit additional civilians, not to release gardaí from administrative duties to the front line of fighting crime. The Minister says he has done X and Y since assuming office. Let us look at an example of what he has done. He has issued instructions regarding the requirement on gardaí to take a long-hand note of interviews even though they are now electronically conducted, but no progress has been made on this matter. The Minister tells me that a pilot programme is at an advantaged stage but, because of the complexities involved, it is likely that any new system will take some time to complete and, therefore, a definitive timeframe cannot be given. What can be so complicated about taking the necessary action to ensure valuable Garda time is no longer wasted in taking long-hand notes of electronically recorded interviews? What does it take to bring modern management procedures to bear on the operation of the Garda Síochána?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The practice of taking handwritten notes while also having the interviews videotaped is part of the preparation for bringing a prosecution to court. My Department and the Garda Síochána are working with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the requirements regarding the type of evidence that is acceptable in a prosecution. Even though every interview is videotaped, it is still important, in order to present evidence in court, to have a written synopsis of a witness's statement. On the basis of the entitlement of every person to a fair trial, the Garda must err on the side of caution in terms of how a case is presented. That is done on the basis of the requirements and directions of the DPP.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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They have been released from the requirement to take long-hand notes.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Rabbitte used the word "whitewash" in reference to this report. I am certainly not engaged in any whitewash. I very much welcome this report which is an indicator of the excellent work being done by the inspectorate in endeavouring to benchmark the Garda progressively as it implements changes in keeping with best international practice. To be fair to the Garda Commissioner and his management, the vast majority of the recommendations previously made by the inspectorate have already been implemented. I expect the same to happen in this instance.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Minister has no role in it. It is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.