Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reconsider the medical grounds which disqualified a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary from entry to the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12445/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Entry to the Garda Síochána is governed by the An Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations, 1988, as amended. These regulations provide that the Garda Commissioner shall not admit a person as a Garda trainee unless the person is certified by a registered medical practitioner to be in good health, of sound constitution and suited physically and mentally to performing the duties of a member of the Garda Síochána.

In the above regard I am informed by the Garda authorities that the vision standard required by Garda trainees is as follows: not less than 6/9, 6/12 unaided by glasses or contact lenses; binocular acuity for near vision should be N8 measured on Snellan test types; both eyes should be free of organic, congenital or traumatic lesions; have normal visual fields; have normal fundoscopy. The vision of the applicant referred to by the Deputy in the question was assessed by the medical examiners at the Garda medical department, who concluded that while his right eye met the required visual entry standard, his left eye was below the minimum acceptable visual entry standard set for entry to the Garda Síochána.