Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senators will recall that when I assumed my present office I committed to delivering a sea change in the oversight of policing. Since then I have worked with the Cabinet committee on justice reform to deliver a comprehensive programme of reform of the oversight governance and accountability of An Garda Síochána. The overall objective of this programme is to ensure that the confidence of the public in the Garda Síochána is maintained and to bring forward necessary changes, so that the high quality and respected service of the Garda Síochána can be maintained, developed and enhanced to better meet the realities, requirements and expectations of 21st century policing.

As part of the justice reform programme the Government held, for the first time, an open and independent selection process for the position of Garda Commissioner and the two positions of Deputy Garda Commissioner. Legislation was introduced and enacted to strengthen the role and remit of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. A Commission of Investigation, being chaired by Mr. Justice O'Higgins, has been established and is currently examining matters in the Cavan-Monaghan Garda Division. The terms of reference are fully in line with those recommended in the Guerin report. The independent review mechanism is also under way. Earlier today I announced that I have appointed retired High Court Judge Mr. Justice Roderick Murphy to independently oversee the issuing of responses to complainants. I felt it was important that the review mechanism was seen as independent from beginning to conclusion. The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 has amended the Garda legislation to allow Garda members to make "protected disclosures" to GSOC in confidence in respect of alleged Garda misconduct. The Freedom of Information Act 2014 extends to the Garda Síochána. The Garda Professional Standards Unit, GPSU, on the operation of the fixed charge processing system, penalty points, was published and in response we now have an independent oversight authority for the processing of penalty points.

In November 2014, the Garda Inspectorate published a comprehensive report on crime investigation making a number of short-term, medium-term and longer-term recommendations. The recommendations under way include a review of crime counting rules by the CSO, the establishment of a data quality team in An Garda Síochána, reorganisation within An Garda Síochána, the establishment of a new criminal justice steering group to provide greater co-ordination between all the bodies operating under the criminal justice system, as mentioned in the Toland report. There is also the establishment of a new Garda incident recording process and a very significant development, given that this is the year when the EU directive on victims will be transposed into legislation, a victim support office in every Garda division where certain gardaí have this as a particular task and focus. Recently I held a round table with all the victims groups, all of whom were very supportive of this initiative by the Garda Síochána. In addition, the Government has also focused on resources.

Last September, this Government reopened the Garda college for new recruits for the first time since 2009. Three hundred have already started their training. The first 99 have attested and are working in communities nationwide. We promised seamless ongoing recruitment and we are delivering on that promise. Some 250 more recruits will enter the Garda college in the coming months. Significantly, each intake will comprise 125 recruits, an increase from the 100 recruits taken in as part of the first three tranches since recruitment recommenced last September. This ramped-up recruitment signifies the determination of Government to delivering an effective, responsive police service to protect our communities and respond to emerging crime trends. Crime trends vary over time, therefore particular responses are needed. The additional recruitment will bring to 550 the total number of gardaí who will have been recruited by the Government between September 2014 and 2015.