Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

756. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider establishing a commission of investigation into the cancellation of 999 calls. [52713/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls a very serious matter. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or indeed anyone in a vulnerable position, who summoned the courage to seek assistance may not have received it.

I have asked the Policing Authority to oversee the review being conducted by An Garda Síochána in relation to this matter, which is in keeping with the Authority's overall oversight role, and I believe this is the most cost effective and appropriate mechanism to evaluate and, most importantly, to resolve this matter. There have been a number of engagements between the Authority and An Garda Síochána this year, most recently on 28 October, and this work is ongoing.

I share the Authority and the Commissioner's concern about the continuation of what appear to be inappropriate cancellation and classification of calls since the introduction of the new procedures. These circumstances will of course be considered by the Authority as part of their continuing oversight of the Garda review of this matter, and will be taken into account in the work being carried out by an external policing expert who has been appointed to assist the Authority in this task.

I await the outcome of the Authority's work on this matter and will of course consider any recommendations arising from its work.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

757. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the most recent figure of cancelled 999 calls provided to her. [52714/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, I consider any inappropriate cancellation of 999 calls to be a very serious matter. This falls significantly below the high standards that the public expect from the Gardaí and the high standards that An Garda Síochána set for themselves. I am particularly concerned that anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or indeed anyone in a vulnerable position, who summoned the courage to seek assistance may not have received it.

The Deputy will be aware that I asked the Policing Authority to oversee the review being conducted by An Garda Síochána in relation to this matter, and there have been a number of engagements between the Authority and An Garda Síochána since March of this year. A range of information concerning the number of calls impacted has been put into the public domain through these engagements, including at the most recent meeting on 28 October.

I share the Authority’s concern about the continuation of what appear to be inappropriate cancellation and classification of calls since the introduction of the new procedures. These circumstances will of course be considered by the Authority as part of their continuing oversight of the Garda review of this matter, and will be taken into account in the work being carried out by an external policing expert who has been appointed to assist the Authority in this task.

The purpose of this work is to give independent, expert assurance and advice to the Authority, to the Commissioner and most importantly to the public that the methodology being used by An Garda Síochána to examine incidents will deliver what is needed to understand what happened, its impact and how the organisation can prevent its reoccurrence.

I await the outcome of the Authority's review, which is ongoing, and will of course put into the public domain its conclusions, including as to the number of calls cancelled and other relevant information.