Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 10: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has completed his consideration of the recent report of An Garda Síochána Advisory Groups published on 7 November 2007; if he will implement the recommendations of the report; if a timetable has been set for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6831/07]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 16: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has completed his consideration of the recent report of the Garda Inspectorate published on 7 November 2007; if he will implement the recommendations of the report; if a timetable has been set for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6830/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 16 together.

I published last November the two important reports recommending radical reform of the top management structure of An Garda Síochána. The reports are by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and the Garda Síochána Advisory Group chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes.

By way of background, the Garda Síochána Inspectorate was established in July 2006. Its objective under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 is to ensure that the resources available to An Garda Síochána are used so as to achieve and maintain the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its operation and administration, as measured by reference to the best standards of comparable police services. This is the Inspectorate's first report. The Advisory Group was appointed by me in August 2006 to advise the Garda Commissioner on addressing the leadership and management challenges currently facing the Garda Síochána. This is the Advisory Group's first, and interim, report to the Garda Commissioner.

The reports recommend enhanced civilian support for senior Garda management and urge accelerated recruitment of civilian support staff so as to release Gardaí for operational duties. Some key recommendations include

a new civilian post at Deputy Garda Commissioner level to deal with administration and resource management, including areas such as finance and information technology,

six civilian Director level posts, namely Legal Affairs, Human Resource Management, Information and Communications Technology, Strategy, Forensic Support and Communications. More generally, the Advisory Group urges,

a new post of Assistant Commissioner for professional standards, reporting direct to the Garda Commissioner.

maximum delegation of operational responsibility to the Assistant Commissioners in charge of the Regions, with appropriate support by civilian staff in areas such as finance, HR and analysis,

a realignment of the Garda Síochána's organisational chart to recognise the central role of these Regional Commissioners and the core policing functions they exercise.

I very much welcome these timely reports as a very significant contribution to the current reform and renewal of An Garda Síochána. I have brought the reports to the attention of the Government and at its meeting on 19 December, 2006 the Government, as part of a number of measures it took to strengthen the capacity of An Garda Síochána to combat crime, approved the creation of 7 new senior civilian management posts, including a new Deputy Commissioner equivalent, in the senior management structure of An Garda Síochána, as recommended by the Hayes Group and by the Garda Inspectorate. The Garda Commissioner is now finalising arrangements for the recruitment of these senior managers.

The Garda Síochána Inspectorate is currently undertaking an operational and administrative assessment of the Garda Síochána, including resource allocation and the deployment of Garda and civilian personnel. I have asked for an interim report from the Inspectorate on its assessment and I have been informed that its report in this regard is at an advanced stage of preparation and will be submitted to me in the coming weeks. Following receipt of that report, I intend to bring specific proposals to Government at that stage in relation to the implementation of its recommendations.

Finally, I should emphasise that the reports on the reform of the Garda management structure are the beginning and not the end of a process of reform and modernisation. I want to thank the members of the Advisory Group and the Inspectorate for the work they have put into these reports, and I also want to acknowledge the co-operation they have received from An Garda Síochána.