Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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717. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are plans to issue front-line gardaí with PAVA spray instead of CS spray. [40667/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister I have no role in these independent functions.

I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the health and safety of Gardaí is of paramount and ongoing concern, so all operational and protective equipment is kept under constant review. We have had a largely unarmed police service for 100 years, protecting people in their moments of greatest need, relying centrally on the principle of consent. However, it is vital that An Garda Síochána have at their disposal the necessary tools to ensure the safety of the public at large, and the safety of Garda members themselves in the course of their duties.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently no plans to issue frontline Gardaí with PAVA spray. As they Deputy will be aware, Gardaí are issued with pepper spray, however, the criteria applied to the use of less lethal weapons, such as pepper spray, is, intentionally strict so as to limit their use in daily operations.