Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the dates for the most recent updates to the Garda code; the summary of those changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6864/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Code is published in two volumes. Volume I relates to managing a modern police service. The most recent edition of Volume I was issued in August, 2005. Volume II relates to financial matters. The most recent edition of Volume II was issued in December, 1994. Updates of the Garda Code are circulated by way of H.Q. Directives, as the need arises.

Each member of An Garda Síochána has been issued with a personal copy of the Garda Code to be retained by the member during service. The Garda Síochána Code, which covers all areas of Garda duties including operational, security and administrative duties, is a confidential publication which must be carefully preserved and its contents, in whole, or in part, are not disclosed by the Garda Commissioner to any unauthorised person. Accordingly, it is not possible to publish details of recent changes to the code. As the Deputies will be aware, the Government Decision in 2004 relating to the introduction of revised payment structures for legal fees at Tribunals of Inquiry envisaged the introduction of the revised fees on different dates, depending on when the Tribunal in question was established.