Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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211. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of the PSNI and An Garda Síochána who have served in the other policing service on this island under the secondment provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Police (Northern Ireland) Acts of 2000 and 2003. [40287/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. 

The Inter-Governmental Agreement on Police Co-operation obliged both Governments to introduce the necessary administrative and legislative measures to provide for exchanges, secondments and appointments between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 gives effect to this obligations

In the case of secondments it provides for the secondment from the PSNI to certain ranks in An Garda Síochána for a period not exceeding 3 years. Protocols are in place between the Garda Commissioner and the Chief Constable of the PSNI which provide for the implementation of a programme of personnel exchanges and secondments between the two police services.

I have requested a report from the Commissioner in relation to the specific information requested and will revert to the Deputy when it is to hand.