Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

While I have some sympathy for the amendment, I am reluctant to accept it in the context of this Bill. The position regarding the involvement of members of the gardaí and the Defence Forces in providing security services while off-duty is as follows. As regards the gardaí, any such off duty activity is already prohibited. The Garda Síochána disciplinary regulations define prohibitive, spare time activity as including, inter alia, any activity which is prohibited by the Commissioner as inappropriate for members to engage in. Acting as directors or secretaries of security firms or being engaged in any way in security work or spare time activity is so prohibited. Section 16 of the Garda Síochána Bill, which is before the House, makes provisions for statutory codes of conduct. On balance, it would be more appropriate to deal with the off duty conduct of gardaí in the context of such codes rather than in this Bill.

As regards the Defence Forces, the Defence Forces regulations provide that involvement in off duty employment may be terminated or limited where such employment is likely to prove detrimental or prejudicial to the best interests of the service. I cannot accept the amendment.