Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Taoiseach the status of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing. [34583/20]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In September 2018, the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) published its Report outlining a clear vision and roadmap for strengthening An Garda Síochána and the broader national framework for policing, security and community safety.

In December 2018, the Government approved A Policing Service for our Futureas the Plan to implement the CoFPI Report. The Plan was developed in cooperation with stakeholders from across the public service and, in particular, with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána.

An Implementation Group on Policing Reform – with a former member of CoFPI as its independent Chair – has been established and has collective responsibility for the delivery of the Plan.

To help guide the work of the Implementation Group on Policing Reform and act as a clearing house where particular blockages are being experienced, a High Level Steering Board on Policing Reform – chaired by the Secretary General to the Government – has also been established.

The Policing Reform Implementation Programme Office – which is based in the Department of the Taoiseach – monitors progress on the Plan, supports the work of the Implementation Group on Policing Reform, and keeps the High Level Steering Board on Policing Reform and Government apprised of the progress being made.

The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality provides requisite political oversight of implementation of the Plan.

A Policing Service for our Futureis a living document which is reviewed and updated, as required, to maintain ambitious but realistic commitments, timeframes and milestones.

A Policing Service for our Future is broken down in to four stages of implementation, namely:

1. The Building Blocks Phase (6 months’ duration);

2. The Launching Phase (6 months’ duration);

3. The Scaling Phase (18 months’ duration); and

4. The Consolidation Phase (12 – 18 months’ duration currently envisaged).

The Building Blocks and Launching Phases have been completed and some of the highlights in terms of achievements include.

- The roll-out of a new Operating Model for An Garda Síochána, designed to streamline Garda administration and to provide a more visible, responsive and localised policing service to communities nationwide, has commenced;

- An Garda Síochána has established and strengthened resourcing of a Human Rights Unit and re-established the Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee;

- The National Security Analysis Centre (NSAC) has been established and the Director of NSAC appointed; and

- The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2019 has been enacted which gives Gardaí access to the Workplace Relations Commission for the first time and provides for a modern industrial relations framework within An Garda Síochána.

There has also been progress on legislative reform, in particular, legislation is being drafted relating to:

- the use of recording devices (including body worn cameras);

-the codification of legislation defining police powers of arrest, search and detention; and

- a new coherent framework for the governance and oversight of An Garda Síochána.

Progress in 2020 has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I have been encouraged to see the responsiveness and flexibility shown by An Garda Síochána in dealing with the demands of this unprecedented situation. The Implementation Group on Policing Reform has been actively engaged with key stakeholders to ensure continued momentum on reform, in so far as possible, under the current circumstances.

The third phase of A Policing Service for our Future– the Scaling Phase– has now commenced. This is the critical phase of the programme of reform, during which the programme gains momentum. The delivery of the majority of the actions will be started or executed during the Scaling Phase.

Further information on progress and updates on the implementation of A Policing Service for our Futurecan be found at .