Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Garvey for raising this important issue. I am acutely aware of the vulnerable and often frightening position that callers suffering domestic abuse, and indeed anyone in a vulnerable position, are in. Any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls is a very serious concern and falls significantly below the high standards the public expects of the Garda as well as the standards An Garda Síochána should set for itself. I acknowledge the concerns voiced by victims and those who advocate for them in response to this recent news. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse or whose personal safety was otherwise at risk and who sought assistance via a 999 call may not have received it. The Senator will be aware that the Garda Commissioner has publicly apologised for this, and was correct to do so. An Garda Síochána fell short of the high standards the public expects of the Garda. The Garda Commissioner has assured me and the Minister for Justice, Deputy Humphreys, that when someone calls 999 now, he or she can expect and trust that An Garda Síochána will help. This must always be the case. I can confirm that the Garda Commissioner has put new processes in place, strengthening supervision and providing training to ensure this never happens again. I welcome these steps.

As the Senator is aware, this issue was initially identified in An Garda Síochána last October as part of its internal processes. The Department was informed by An Garda Síochána in December that it had commenced an internal examination of the cancellation of 999 calls. An Garda Síochána also informed the Policing Authority. Following discussions with An Garda Síochána, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, requested the Policing Authority to oversee the investigation by An Garda Síochána in February this year, and there has been ongoing engagement on this issue between the authority and the Garda Commissioner at both their public and private meetings. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has been briefed by the Garda Commissioner and the authority chairman, Mr. Bob Collins, on the progress of the ongoing internal investigation over the past number of weeks. The importance of having independent, robust policing oversight to respond constructively to public policing service concerns such as this is evident, and the authority will provide a report to me when its consideration of this matter is concluded.

The Garda Commissioner has also confirmed that gardaí are now contacting people whose 999 calls were cancelled to apologise and to ask if they require help from An Garda Síochána. It is vital that the best interests of victims of domestic abuse and those of anyone else whose calls were cancelled inappropriately are the priority focus throughout this process. I will continue to remain in close contact with the Garda Commissioner and the chair of the authority over the coming weeks on this matter. On the conclusion of their investigations, the Garda and the authority will make recommendations and take appropriate actions to ensure that this vital emergency service responds in a consistent, compassionate and timely way to those who call upon it in times of danger and vulnerability.