Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of postings overseas of members of An Garda Síochána in the past five years; the remit of the posting; the length of secondment to such posts to date; the cost to date of the posting; if the State has been reimbursed for moneys expended on the posting by an international body or by the States to which they are posted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31021/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that there are two distinct groupings of members of An Garda Síochána on overseas postings. They are Liaison Officers and members on either United Nations or European Union Missions.

Liaison Officers

Eight (8) Garda Sergeants, attached to Liaison & Protection, are currently posted abroad as Liaison Officers.

Five of these postings are as Garda Liaison Officers in the UK (London), France (Paris), Spain (Madrid), Netherlands (The Hague, also covers Germany and Belgium) and Portugal (Lisbon, also covers Morocco).

The Liaison Officer posted to Portugal also covers the MAOC-N (Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics)). All of these posts are in existence for a period in excess of five (5) years with the exception of the position of Garda Liaison Officer Lisbon / MAOC-N which came into being in 2008.

The duties of a Garda Liaison Officer include:

Advising Garda Management on legal and operational matters relative to the country/countries to which they are posted.

Undertaking duties assigned to him/her by Garda Management.

Keeping the Ambassador generally informed of the Liaison Officers activities.

Interacting and cooperating with local and other foreign law enforcement officers.

Two (2) Garda Sergeants act as Europol Liaison Officers in Europol, The Hague. The duties of Europol Liaison Officer include:

Representing An Garda Síochána at Europol HQ and managing the Irish Liaison Desk there.

Liaising with the National Units at Garda HQ and ensuring that AGS is aware of all policy matters affecting Europol and of direct interest to An Garda Síochána.

Responding to requests from other Europol Liaison Officers and Europol for enquiries to be conducted in Ireland.

Submitting requests from units within AGS to other Europol Liaison Officers for enquires to be carried out in their respective member states.

Submitting requests for analysis by Europol Analytical Section.

One (1) Garda Sergeant is a seconded national expert to Interpol Headquarters in Lyon to act as a Criminal Intelligence Officer at the Trafficking in Human Beings Sub-Directorate.

All postings are for a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years.

United Nations (UN) / European Union (EU) Missions

Members assigned to UN or EU duty operate under mandates set by these organisations and in general act as a support to the rule of law mission in the host country.

The numbers assigned to overseas postings since 2005 to date are contained in the following table:

Garda personnel are in receipt of their normal salary and an overseas allowance from the Garda Vote and the amount of the allowance varies depending on the members rank and posting. An additional allowance may also be paid directly to each member by the EU/UN as appropriate to the mission. All postings are on behalf of An Garda Síochána and no funding is provided by the receiving state or international organisation. The costs of such postings are not readily available and an examination of this nature would involve a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.