Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Regarding Senator Cummins's amendment, I am concerned that paragraph (a) would exclude town councils from being involved in setting up policing committees. I have the same concern about the original Government proposal. I did not realise until now that this amendment was proposed. I agree with the Government amendment to delete the reference to the city or county development boards because it should be possible for a town council to set up a joint policing committee, which I think is what underlies the Government amendment. I consider that is the best way to proceed. It is wrong to be too prescriptive, which is why I am concerned about the Fine Gael amendment. The terms "city and county development board" and "county or city council area" are not so different. Both terms could have the possible effect of excluding town councils from setting up policing committees or ensuring they would only be involved on a secondary basis, such as with the invitation of the local authority. That is why I am unhappy with the Fine Gael wording and would prefer the Government approach.

I am not sure about the other matters. In terms of the guidelines which the Minister will produce, perhaps the Minister of State was correct to say, in terms of amendment No. 44, that he wants to leave it open to other possibilities in terms of what the guidelines might prescribe, although this may need to be reviewed down the line. I agree with the Government in that regard.

Rather than provide for the co-option of other persons, the legislation should state whether it is possible for others to become involved in the committees. Co-options are something in between. One either agrees or disagrees with the involvement of people who are outside the Oireachtas, local authorities or the Garda. Given that co-option is as good as having other people on the committees, why not allow for the possibility, as is provided for in the Government proposal? Section 31(2)(b) refers to, "such other public authorities, bodies or persons as may be provided for in the guidelines." I consider that to be the best approach. I am not in favour of the Fine Gael amendment.