David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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556. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of time typically taken to train a member of the Garda Reserve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57706/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing, controlling and generally carrying on the business of An Garda Síochána including the recruitment and training of Garda members, Garda reserves and Garda staff.

Established in 2006, the Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to support policing and give something back to their communities. The Reserve reinforces An Garda Síochána's essential community links, and provides the capacity to draw on additional resources to assist in policing.

As part of the government’s plan to modernise and strengthen An Garda Síochána, A Policing Service for our Future, the Garda Commissioner has developed a Garda Reserve Strategy 2021-2025, which provides a roadmap for the development of this important service.

The Strategy, published in October 2021, is informed by an internal review of the Reserve, and sets out key commitments including recruitment, training and development, deployment, governance and evaluation. A priority is a new recruitment campaign, which will be held next year, and on foot of which new reservists will be appointed for five years initially.

I am informed that following the initial application stage and on successful completion of an interview, medical examination and security clearance, applicants are invited to attend training to become a member of the Garda Reserve.

The information below, which is publicly available on the Garda website, outlines the training programme for the Garda Reserve.

Garda Reserve Training Programme:

- Phase I:Two day induction course (Weekdays) at the Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary covering the following areas: Introduction to An Garda Síochána, Human Rights, Discipline, Ethics and Organisational Culture.

- Phase II: Two week all inclusive course to be held at the Garda College (Monday - Friday not including weekends). The course will include training in retractable baton, incapacitant spray and Tetra radio.

- Phase III:Two day course (weekdays) at the Garda College.

- Phase IV: Minimum of 40 hours on the job training at a designated Garda station to include accompanied beat patrol and station duty.

- Phase V:One day attestation and graduation ceremony - weekday at the Garda College.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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557. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of appointments made to superintendent, chief superintendent, assistant commissioner and deputy commissioner level in each year since June 2018 on a yearly basis; the percentage of these appointments that came from within An Garda Síochána; the percentage that have come from other policing services or from outside policing services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57875/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Appointment to the ranks referred to by the Deputy is governed by legislation, with appointments to the ranks of Superintendent, Chief Superintendent, and Assistant Commissioner open to members of An Garda Síochána and to officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland with suitable experience. Appointment to the position of Deputy Commissioner is by way of open competition.

I am informed that, since 2018, the following appointments from external police services have been made at the relevant ranks.

2018 1 Superintendent (PSNI)

2020 1 Assistant Commissioner (PSNI) and 1 Superintendent (PSNI)

2021 1 Superintendent (PSNI), 1 Deputy Commissioner (Toronto Police Service)

2022 1 Assistant Commissioner (PSNI).

The below table provides figures, as published by the Policing Authority on their website, of the appointments to the relevant ranks (including those from external candidates above). Information is presented quarterly as published.

*1 Assistant Commissioner appointed on an Acting basis, subsequently appointed permanently to the position in 2021 (actual total appointments to Assistant Commissioner rank is therefore 9).

Therefore, out of 168 appointments to the ranks concerned, 162 (96.5%) were serving members of An Garda Síochána and 6 (3.5%) were members of outside police services.

The percentage breakdown of appointments of successful candidates by rank is provided below.

It should be noted that where a member joins from the Police Service of Northern Ireland at the rank of Superintendent they are eligible, so long as they fulfil all other criteria of the relevant competition, to apply for promotion to the ranks of Chief Superintendent and above. Such candidates would be considered to be internal to An Garda Síochána for such promotions.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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558. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she intends to bring forward the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 for Second Stage debate. [57941/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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559. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has been in contact with representatives of the European Commission in relation to the way the proposed EU Artificial Intelligence Act will interact with the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022; and, if so, if she will provide details of the issues raised. [57942/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 558 and 559 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, Government approved publication of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill 2022 on 4 August this year. This important legislation will make provision for Garda powers to use modern digital technology including body worn cameras, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV.

Work is progressing within my Department on Committee Stage amendments to the Bill and I hope to be able to progress this important piece of legislation in the early part of the new year.

The draft EU Artificial Intelligence Act is currently being negotiated. Aspects of the draft proposals concerning real-time Facial Recognition Technology usage by police are relevant to the amendments being prepared for the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill. My Department is closely monitoring the progress of negotiations and the Digital Recording Bill will be fully compliant with requirements of the AI Act when it is agreed.

I can inform the Deputy that my Department has made contact with European Commission officials to inform them of the Government's proposals in the Garda Síochána (Digital Recording) Bill and this engagement will continue as the Bill progresses.