Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the rules, regulations and possibilities in respect of members of the Police Force in the United Kingdom transferring here under his jurisdiction; if any such transfers have taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18834/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Under current regulations on admission and appointment to the Garda Síochána, recruitment to the Garda rank is open to all citizens of the EEA, although there is no provision for serving members in police forces in other States to apply directly for posts at higher ranks. Under an Intergovernmental Agreement on Police Co-operation between Ireland and the UK, however, provision is made for members from the Garda Síochána and the PSNI to apply for posts in the other Force at ranks above Inspector. Giving effect to this will require changes to the current Garda regulations, and my Department is in ongoing discussions on this with the Garda Commissioner, the Garda representative associations and the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland Office. Under this Agreement, personnel exchanges between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI are already in place, and a Garda Superintendent was recently seconded to the PSNI.