Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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44. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of a Garda position (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39171/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

An Garda Síochána maintains close liaison with other law enforcement agencies internationally and the work of Garda liaison officers who are permanently based in other jurisdictions and in international bodies such as Interpol and Europol, greatly facilitate the prompt exchange of information and intelligence on criminal activity. Such international liaison has led to many parallel investigations with international law enforcement agencies.

The State is committed to providing two members of An Garda Síochána to Europol. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that in August 2016, one of the two members of An Garda Síochána based at Europol Headquarters in the Hague was successful in an internal Garda competition and was assigned to a position in Dublin. I am further informed that arrangements are in-hand for a competition to be held to fill the vacancy arising on a permanent basis. In the interim, An Garda Síochána is represented by the full-time Garda Liaison Officer and an additional member of An Garda Síochána assigned on temporary secondment to work at Europol. I can assure the Deputy that there has been no reduction in Ireland’s commitment to the operational strength of Europol.