Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has plans to facilitate the transfer of, or otherwise recruit serving police officers from the London Metropolitan Police to An Garda Síochána; if he has plans to encourage members of the Garda Reserve to join the full-time force; if he will raise the upper age limit for recruitment to An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7613/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Section 122(1)(d) of the Garda Síochána Acts, 2005-2007 provides for the making of regulations on the admission, appointment, and enrolment of members including members who have served with other Police Services and members with different ethnic or national origins or different religious beliefs or backgrounds. The Act also provides for the continuation in law of the Garda Síochána Admissions and Appointments Regulations 1988 (as amended) which in turn set out the specific recruitment criteria for appointment as a member of An Garda Síochána. Recruitment is open to citizens of the EEA and there is no prohibition on serving police officers applying, provided they meet the requirements. The case for specific regulations on the recruitment of serving police officers will be kept under review.

It is open to members of the Garda Reserve to apply to join An Garda Síochána on a full time basis. To date, a total of 31 attested and/or trainee Reserve Gardaí have left the Garda Reserve to become full time members of An Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 provide that in a competition for full-time membership of An Garda Síochána, the assessment shall take into account any service by the candidate as a Reserve member of the Garda Síochána, and shall give due recognition to evidence of satisfactory service as such a member.

Admission as a trainee Garda is contingent on the prospective applicant being under 35 years of age. This upper age limit was set in 2004 following consultation with the Commissioner and there are no plans to amend it.