Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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494. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the review into the age limits for joining An Garda Síochána will be completed; the status of the review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3289/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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497. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to consult with the Policing Authority and An Garda Síochána regarding reforming Garda recruitment policy to increase the age limitations of recruits and to allow for qualified members of other European police services to transfer into and apply for police duties in An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3364/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 497 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by legislation, in particular the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013. These regulations provide that the maximum age at which a person may apply to join An Garda Síochána as a full time member is not more than 35 years of age on midnight on the closing date on any Garda recruitment competition.

There are no plans to change the age limits for Garda recruitment in advance of the upcoming 2022 competition. Any amendments to the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 are carried out in consultation with the Garda Commissioner and Policing Authority

I can inform the Deputies that an Expert Review Group was established under the remit of the Garda Commissioner to examine the issues of Garda recruitment, recruit education, entry pathways, and learning and development. This review was a commitment under A Policing Service for our Future, the Government’s Implementation Plan for the recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The Group, which was to operate in an advisory capacity, was tasked to examine a variety of matters including the age of recruitment to An Garda Síochána. The report of the Expert Review Group is currently being considered by the Garda Commissioner.

Current legislation provides that nationals of an EU Member State, an EEA State, the United Kingdom or the Swiss Confederation are eligible to apply to join An Garda Síochána as recruits, or to join the Garda Reserve, through the normal competitions. The Garda Síochána Act 2005 also provides for the direct recruitment, by way of open competition, of members of the PSNI into An Garda Síochána at certain senior levels, i.e. Superintendent, Chief Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner. There is also provision for the limited–term secondment of PSNI officers under certain circumstances.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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495. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures and mechanism for persons with policing experience and qualifications gained in another jurisdiction, that is, another policing service or in Northern Ireland that can enable them to transfer into An Garda Síochána at officer level and detective level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3362/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013. There are a number of routes under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 through which individuals with policing experience and qualifications gained in another jurisdiction may join the organisation.

Current legislation provides that nationals of an EU Member State, an EEA State, the United Kingdom or the Swiss Confederation are eligible to apply to join An Garda Síochána as recruits, or to join the Garda Reserve, through the normal competitions.

The Garda Síochána Act 2005 also provides for the direct recruitment, by way of open competition, of members of the PSNI into An Garda Síochána at certain senior levels, i.e. Superintendent, Chief Superintendent and Assistant Commissioner.

The Deputy may also wish to note that arrangements are in place to allow for the secondment of officers from the PSNI to certain ranks in An Garda Síochána for a period not exceeding 3 years. 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. Sections 52 - 54 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 gives effect to these obligations. 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.

As the Deputy will be aware, in December 2018 the Government endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and the report is now being implemented in accordance with the targets and timelines set out APolicing Service for our Future.

Among the issues highlighted in the report was that An Garda Síochána should reflect the diversity of Irish society and should therefore develop recruitment strategies to achieve a more diverse intake. An Expert Review Group was established under the remit of the Garda Commissioner to examine the issues of Garda recruitment, recruit education, entry pathways, and learning and development. This review was a commitment under A Policing Service for our Future. The report of the Expert Review Group is currently being considered by the Garda Commissioner.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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496. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of police officers serving in An Garda Síochána that are on secondment from police services outside Ireland; the number of members of An Garda Síochána currently seconded to the PSNI and law enforcement bodies in other States; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3363/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.