Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views in respect of the proposed Garda compensation tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21144/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Currently, Gardaí who sustain injuries maliciously inflicted upon them in the performance of their duties are entitled in accordance with the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Acts 1941 and 1945 to apply for an authorisation from my Department to seek compensation in the High Court. Those Acts oblige me, as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to refuse to authorise an application for compensation to the High Court where I am of opinion that the injury is of a minor character and was sustained in the performance of a duty not involving special risk.

I intend to bring legislative proposals to Government in the near future with the objective of establishing a Garda Compensation Tribunal which will deal with both minor and non minor injuries in an efficient manner and to the satisfaction of all interested parties.