Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 614: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views regarding the possibility of establishing a transport police, possibly under the new Garda reserve, to take responsibility for the patrolling and securing of public safety on Luas, DART and Dublin Bus; his further views on establishing same on a pilot basis in the Dublin area first; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14253/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Garda Commissioner, in a comprehensive submission to me on the Garda reserve, has proposed that the powers of reserve members will be confined to the enforcement of certain aspects of the following Acts: under the Road Traffic Acts — demanding driving licences and insurance details, enforcing the wearing of seat belts, etc.; under the Public Order Act — dealing with the offences of intoxication, threatening behaviour, disorderly conduct and failure to comply with the direction of a member of the Garda Síochána; and under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act — dealing with the offences of theft and burglary. Reserve members would also be given the power of arrest under the Criminal Law Act 1997, which provides powers of arrest for both members of the Garda Síochána and civilians.

The additional resource of a well-trained Garda reserve with carefully selected powers and duties will very significantly increase the capacity of the Garda Síochána to combat crime and disorder and provide the public with the security and safety it rightly demands. As regards the role of reserve members of the Garda Síochána in the establishment of a transport police, the position is that under section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for the establishment of a Garda reserve, the powers and duties of reserve members may be determined by the Garda Commissioner. I am informed by the Garda authorities that currently there are no proposals to establish a transport police under the new Garda reserve.