Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. It is always helpful when the Minister responsible comes and takes the issue.

To recap briefly on the history of the issue, before I entered politics there were two superintendents based in Connemara, one in Oughterard and one in Clifden. In a decision which was made before my time in politics but which was made by a Fianna Fáil, the headquarters for east Connemara was moved into Salthill barracks, but the regional headquarters for the rest of Connemara remained in Clifden. I now understand that the proposal is that the headquarters for all of Connemara would be in Salthill, which means that Galway city will have the headquarters for all of Connemara as well as the regional headquarters - a fantastic massive building which the Minister opened - but of which no notice was given until the last minute.

Some of us have not got the notice yet, although we will park that as it is not the subject of my question today. Second, an issue had been raised about having an office with an inspector in Carraroe that would be specifically for the Gaeltacht area, which would be a sub-region. However, we understand that is not going to happen either. Third, there is a need to ensure that, right up to the level of superintendent, all of those dealing with the Gaeltacht area can speak Irish. This happens to be the biggest Gaeltacht area in the country and things such as court cases are habitually carried out in Irish, of course, only when the other side can deal with a person in Irish. This is always the thing that forces language choice, and it forces language choice on me every day. My office deals with those who can deal with us capably in Irish through Irish, but we deal with those who can only deal with us capably in the English language in the pragmatic way, that is, through English.

We will not beat around the bush. Why will there not be a regional headquarters for Connemara based in Connemara, with the superintendent based in Clifden, as was always the case? Why is there not a sub-regional office for the Gaeltacht with an inspector based in An Cheathrú Rua? Will the Minister ensure that gardaí of all ranks who will be dealing with the Gaeltacht area of Connemara, which is about half of Connemara, will be able to do their business in both official languages in a fully competent manner? That would be an ceannfort, an cigire, na sáirsintí agus na gardaí in that area, so they would be able to go in and do the business i gcúirt Dhoire an Fhéich nó Chill Rónáin through Irish or English, depending on the language chosen by the defendant, and do their business in those languages before it ever gets to a court, as the case may arise. That is basically it. We will not waste any more time beating around the bush.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not wish inconvenience on any of the Deputies. My understanding was I was to take the second matter. It was only when I saw the first matter had commenced and saw that Deputy Ó Cuív was here that I came to the Chamber rather hurriedly. I was not aware of any change.

If I heard Deputy Ó Cuív correctly, he said he had not been invited to the official opening of the Garda station in Galway. If that is the case, I am very sorry it happened.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It does not upset me.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As he is the senior Deputy for the area, I did miss him on the occasion of the opening, which I think was on the last day of July, certainly the last weekend of July.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was here. I never left the country.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While I did not issue the invitations, an invitation should, of course, have issued to the senior Deputy for the area. I am sorry that took place and I will certainly check it out because the Deputy should have been present. I know the Deputy would have made representations on the matter, which is important to his constituency and the people he represents.

Deputy Ó Cuív will appreciate that the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team and I have no direct role in this regard. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that, in regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors, including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda division, including the Galway division, with a view to providing an effective and responsive police service.

The Deputy will be aware that Clifden Garda station is the district headquarters for the Clifden Garda district, which forms part of the Galway division. I am informed by the Commissioner that a superintendent district officer was assigned to the district in August and that superintendent is based in Clifden Garda station. This was to fill the vacancy created by the transfer of the previous district officer to take up the position of detective superintendent with responsibility for the western region, which is located in the Galway headquarters.

The Garda strength of the Clifden district on 31 October, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 34. There are 29 Garda reserves and 67 Garda civilian staff attached to the Galway division. In addition, when appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units, such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the armed support units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

As the Deputy will be aware, community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. It provides a means of recognising that every community has its own concerns and expectations, and it has been one of the key strengths of the organisation throughout its history. In that regard, a key focus of the ongoing reform in An Garda Síochána is the modernisation of the way in which policing services are delivered so as to provide a better service to communities. A new divisional policing model is currently being piloted in four divisions across the country, including Galway. This new model was recommended by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate in 2015 to support the more flexible and effective deployment of resources. The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended a move towards a new local model for policing.

With regard to Gaeltacht policing, I am advised by the Commissioner that An Garda Síochána is fully committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Official Languages Act and the 20 year strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, one of the objectives of which is that the use of the Irish language by An Garda Síochána will be continued and developed. Eligible applicants for An Garda Síochána who are fluent Irish speakers may opt to be considered for inclusion in a specialist Irish language stream within the overall recruitment competition run by the Public Appointments Service. Candidates appointed from the Irish language stream are expected to provide a full range of services in Irish. Successful candidates are allocated to Gaeltacht areas for a period of time, as determined by the Garda Commissioner.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It seems we get the answer that there is a superintendent there. However, when we get to the meat of the issue in the fifth paragraph of the Minister's script, we read: "A new divisional policing model is currently being piloted in four divisions across the country, including Galway." Our clear understanding on the ground of what this means in simple English, when we strip away all the verbosity we are presented with by the Minister, is that there will be no superintendent based in Clifden, and that the superintendent will fundamentally be based in Galway city and Salthill. This is not a matter of local deployment; it is a matter of national policy. It seems there is a national policy of stripping everything out of the rural areas and centralising everything into major urban areas. Therefore, on the basis of national policy, which is the remit of the Minster, is he willing to direct that rural areas would retain their key role in the provision of services and the location of headquarters, not on the basis of the whole county but the region, and Connemara is a very distinct region? In my humble opinion, if the area was being divided, all of Connemara should be one Garda subsection, or whatever one wants to call it.

With regard to the Irish language, we get verbose wording about objectives and commitments. I asked a simple question. Will An Garda Síochána ensure that all gardaí who deal directly with the Gaeltacht at all levels are able to do their business in the Irish language? It is a simple question to An Garda Síochána and the answer supplied is vague, to say the least.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Ó Cuív's opinion is never humble. I very much value his experience of many years representing the people of the west and the particular area to which this debate refers. I have listened very closely to what he said.

I reject the Deputy's assertion that this is part of a grand plan to remove services from rural Ireland. My Government colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that the Garda Commissioner has the resources to deliver an effective and modern policing service to all communities throughout the country, including Connemara and the Gaeltacht area. Over the last few years, unprecedented resources have been made available to the Garda Commissioner to implement the Garda modernisation and renewal plan. I acknowledge the leadership of the former Acting Commissioner, Mr. Donall Ó Cualaín, a constituent of Deputy Ó Cuív, until he gave way to the recently appointed Garda Commissioner, Mr. Drew Harris. Resources are now coming on stream across all Garda divisions, including the Galway division, to ensure availability and visibility of gardaí.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda Training College in September 2014, almost 2,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and been assigned to mainstream duties across the country, with 31 assigned to the Galway division. In July of this year, I had the pleasure of attending the official opening of the western regional Garda headquarters in Murrough, Galway. I invite Deputy Ó Cuív to agree with me that the new regional headquarters will become a vital part of the infrastructure of the Galway area. It will also support the delivery of an effective policing service to communities across the Galway division and the Clifden district.

I do not have time to repeat the points I made about the Irish language but I would be happy to provide Deputy Ó Cuív with further information on the Irish language in An Garda Síochána. On the need for gardaí in Gaeltacht areas to be able to conduct their business through the medium of the Irish language, owing to time constraints I will take up that matter privately with the Deputy.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for his co-operation. We will now return to the first Topical Issue matter.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, is not here.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Pat Breen, is taking the matter on behalf of the Minister.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No. This Topical Issue matter was moved on two separate occasions specifically to allow the Minister to be here to take it.

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister is in the Seanad.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister is in the Seanad dealing with the legislation-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have not finished my point. This Topical Issue matter was originally to be taken about a week ago, when I agreed to defer it to another day. I have no problem with Ministers not being available but I agreed to defer it to today at the request of the Minister. I would not have bothered re-tabling it for today if I had known the Minister could not be here to take it. The reason it was not taken on the first day was because the Minister was not available. Had I been told earlier that she could not be here, I could have deferred the matter to another day. It was deferred to today on the basis that the Minister would be here to take it.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will note from the monitor that the Minister is in the Seanad.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I take that point but the way in which this works is that the matter is deferred-----

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputy's point and I sympathise with him. Does he wish to proceed and allow the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Breen, to deal with the matter?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No. I want to have the debate with the Minister, as promised.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That cannot happen now.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The response I will give is the same response that would be given by the Minister. I am also a Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It is a matter for the Deputy. I do not mind one way or the other.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know that.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I cannot allow further debate on the matter. Would the Deputy like to defer the matter to another day?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have no problem with that.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We will now move to the third Topical Issue. In fairness, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, was here but I told him it would be ten or 12 minutes before we reached this matter. We will have to wait for him.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Maybe he will get the bus.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On a point of order, for the record I genuinely understand that people have other commitments but there should be advance notice of these matters. That is a fair point.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My apologies, I understood the House was returning to the first Topical Issue matter.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Owing to unforeseen circumstances, we are not taking that matter today.