Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I have proceeded on the basis that there is international service and service in Northern Ireland and members of the PSNI will be taken in but the possibility of taking in officers from other forces has not been considered. A number of issues need to be considered if we go down that road. Will members of other forces be taken in on different terms from members of the PSNI? Could this be accomplished by the Minister making orders to extend the PSNI regime to other police forces? I would have to think about this proposition carefully.

There are also industrial relations issues. I would not like, without consultation, to impose upon the Garda representative associations the notion that plum jobs could suddenly disappear from under them if people come in from overseas forces. It might make sense to import members of other forces who are from specific ethnic backgrounds or who have expertise in certain areas by way of secondment. I must think about this issue carefully before Report Stage.