Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the implementation of the recommendations of the 2015 Garda Inspectorate report Changing Policing In Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24668/17]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Before I put my question to the Tánaiste, I wish to express my revulsion and that of all Members of Fianna Fáil at the attack in Manchester. Deputy Micheál Martin mentioned this matter earlier today. It was a terrible and cowardly attack on young people who were out enjoying themselves yesterday evening. As justice spokesperson for the largest Opposition party, it is important that I express my revulsion in respect of this attack.

My question concerns the status of the implementation of the 2015 Garda Inspectorate report Changing Policing in Ireland and whether the Tánaiste is satisfied about the manner in which the report and, in particular, its recommendations are being implemented.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Before the questions on justice matters are dealt with, I wish to add to what was said earlier regarding yesterday evening's dreadful events in Manchester. Twenty-two people were killed and many others injured. It is shocking that they became victims simply because they were going about their lives in Manchester on a Monday evening. None of us can understand the mind of a person who would target an event at which so many young people were in attendance and enjoying their leisure. That type and level of hatred surpasses understanding. I pay tribute to the police and other emergency services in Manchester for the great work they are doing in dealing with such an appalling event. We must remember that the Garda Síochána, supported by the Defence Forces, is our first line of defence in counteracting evil of this kind. While the threat level here has not been changed in the aftermath of last night's events, I assure the House that the Garda will continue to work closely with its national and international partners to play its full part in keeping us safe from such atrocities. I have no doubt that all Members of the House support the Garda in its vital work.

As Deputy O'Callaghan is aware, there is an extensive programme of reform under way which contemplates all aspects of the administration and operation of the Garda Síochána. This follows the Government's approval of the five year reform and high level workforce plan for the Garda Síochána which combines the Government’s response to the Garda Inspectorate report Changing Policing in Ireland and the commitments in A Programme for a Partnership Government aimed at increasing the visibility, effectiveness and responsiveness of the Garda Síochána. In support of this plan, I secured funding in budget 2017 to increase the number of gardaí. Deputy O'Callaghan is familiar with the figures in this regard so I will not repeat them.

Robust independent oversight is essential to ensuring that the reform programme is relentlessly pursued over the next five years. I have referred the 240 agreed recommendations to the Policing Authority to monitor and assess their implementation by the Garda Síochána and to report to me on progress in that regard. Deputy O'Callaghan has seen the first progress report. I have recently received the second progress report and am considering its contents and what action is required on foot of it. I will publish it shortly and each future progress report in due course.

A number of reform initiatives have already been completed under the modernisation and renewal programme. This is to be welcomed. The initiatives include: the establishment of the drugs and organised crime bureau; upgrades to PULSE to improve victim services; the establishment of victim support offices; risk management structures at national and divisional level, including the establishment of a risk management governance committee; the protective services strategy has been developed and a national protected services bureau established; improvements to property exhibit management have been implemented; and electronic vetting and freedom of information obligations have been implemented.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Across the Garda organisation, there are initiatives planned, or in train, aimed at implementing the remaining recommendations.

Priority areas include further civilianisation. It is crucial that we ensure that gardaí are engaged in policing, which is the work they are trained for, and are not carrying out administrative and technical roles that can be done by civilian professionals. The Government has set a medium term target of 20% civilians to be achieved by 2021 to facilitate the redeployment of gardaí to front-line policing duties and also to address critical capacity and skills gaps in the An Garda Síochána in regard to human resources, HR, finance, information and communications technology, ICT, and corporate supports generally. As noted by the Policing Authority in its first progress report, this work will require sustained persistence by Garda management and all stakeholders to ensure that this target is achieved.

Other priority areas include initiatives aimed at the more effective deployment of resources, more effective supervision of front-line personnel and cultural change, including the roll-out of the divisional model of policing to support the more flexible and effective deployment of resources - four pilot schemes in this regard are in train and will be evaluated later this year. These involve: the roll-out of divisional protected services bureaus on a phased basis starting in three divisions with effect from the end of this month; the commencement of the performance appraisal framework in the third quarter with training under way at present; the cultural audit to provide a baseline against which cultural change in the Garda Síochána can be measured in the future will get under way shortly; and the Garda Síochána has selected a company to carry out this work after a tender process. The results of the audit will be published.

I highlight these projects to give a flavour of the important reforms that are in train within the Garda Síochána. There are also a number of important initiatives under way under the auspices of the Garda Inspectorate and my Department. In line with the recommendations of Changing Policing in Ireland, I have requested that the Garda Inspectorate examine possibilities for opening up entry routes into all levels of the Garda Síochána and report back to me later this year. This could include fast-track entry for policing professionals from other jurisdictions at the lower ranks and the targeted intake of experienced, skilled police officers and other experienced managers at the senior ranks. In addition, the Changing Policing in Ireland report recommended that the forensic functions of the Garda technical bureau be divested to Forensic Science Ireland. A working group chaired by my Department has been established to move this task forward and manage the transition to a merged body. The intention is for the group to prepare a plan for the merger by the end of 2017 and to oversee its implementation in 2018 to 2019.

All of these initiatives, if implemented in full, will address many of the problems within the Garda Síochána. While we all wish that reform could be delivered immediately, it must be recognised that real reform requires behavioural change on the part of every individual at all levels in the organisation and will take time and perseverance by Garda management. Independent oversight is essential to monitor and assess implementation and to identify any blockages in order that solutions can be found. With the establishment of the Policing Authority, we now have a body that has the capacity to ensure that a focus is created and maintained on this work. The Government is committed to supporting the Authority in its work.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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A week ago, the Government announced the full membership of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland chaired by Ms Kathleen O'Toole. We welcome the individuals who have been nominated to serve on that commission. The commission is a sensible idea and will benefit policing in Ireland. For once, we will have an opportunity to look at policing without having to do so through the microcosm of a crisis or particular past event. It is very important that we do not lose sight of the excellent work which has been done in the past. There is sometimes a tendency in Ireland to call upon a body to conduct a review in order to give the appearance that we are doing something. A huge amount of excellent work was done by the Garda Inspectorate and is detailed in its 2015 report, Changing Policing in Ireland. The most important aspect of any report is not its drafting but the way in which it is followed-up to ensure that its recommendations are implemented. The Tánaiste mentioned a number of recommendations contained in the report. We need to be satisfied that they will be implemented. Many of the recommendations are the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner. We must ensure that there is another entity within the Garda or Government that will ensure that these recommendations are being implemented. Unless we have that, there is no point in having many reports.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his support for the commission. I agree that having the opportunity outside of a crisis situation to consider the wide range of issues in regard to the Garda Síochána is very important. As Deputy O'Callaghan said, an important consideration in establishing the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland was that it would not impede any reforms already in train or planned.

I agree with the Deputy on monitoring. A very important point is that I have no doubt that the Policing Authority will robustly monitor the implementation of recommendations. I will be publishing the second report shortly. That largely concerns monitoring the implementation of the recommendations.

It must be remembered that the modernisation programme involves a five-year plan. The Garda is not going to be in a position to implement all of these recommendations overnight. It is important that it is evident that recommendations are being taken seriously, implemented and moved forward, including key recommendations such as civilianisation, the Garda Reserve, and the continuation of the recruitment process.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I look forward to reviewing the second progress report when the Minister has an opportunity to publish it. I do not suggest it should be possible to implement recommendations overnight but it is important to keep a constant and vigilant eye upon the recommendations contained within the reports. If we do not, we will get into a cycle of producing one report after another. Valid criticism can be made of the non-implementation of the recommendations contained within Changing Policing in Ireland and yet we are off again on another commission to look at policing into the future. I support it because it is important to have a prospective view of what is best for policing in Ireland into the future but we cannot ignore or forget that there are many excellent recommendations in the Changing Policing in Ireland report. My concern is that many of them will not be directly implemented because unless somebody is charged with actual responsibility for implementing these recommendations, they sometimes can be lost or forgotten about and we move on to the next report and the good recommendations in this one can be omitted.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I do not believe we should keep saying that the recommendations have not been implemented. While there clearly are many recommendations in the report - 242 in total - we must recognise, as the Deputy suggests, the recommendations that have been implemented and be clear about those and equally be vigilant about those which have not and we should query any possible slowness of response in recommending and implementing the key proposals. I assure the Deputy that I expect the Policing Authority will be robust and vigorous in highlighting the recommendations that are moving ahead, as well as identifying areas where further urgency is needed.

There are some general issues around recruitment in the public service at present. There are difficulties in recruitment across the public service. That will have an impact on civilians and we also must be cognisant of that.