Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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297. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of individuals dismissed from An Garda Síochána owing to court sentences received by them, over the past ten years. [27819/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The vast majority of members of An Garda Síochána uphold the values of the organisation and serve the State with integrity each and every day.

Of course, for the public to have absolute confidence in An Garda Síochána, they must have faith that when the law is broken by the people entrusted with upholding it, the same laws and processes will be applied without fear or favour to those who wear a uniform as anyone who doesn’t.

As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Commissioner is responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including disciplinary procedures and all Garda investigations. I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána’s Internal Affairs Section manages internal discipline cases which can result from a conviction in court from prosecutions taken by the DPP on behalf of An Garda Síochána or GSOC. The outcome of proceedings in each case are reported to a senior level within An Garda Síochána.

Dependent on the nature of the conviction recorded against a Garda member, the Commissioner may pursue the dismissal or the dispensing of a Garda's services under the following legislation/ statutory instruments:

• Section 14, Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended (Sworn members)
• Regulation 39 of the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended (Sworn members)
• Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2024 (Reserve Garda Members)
• Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 (Probationer Garda)

Over the course of 11 and a half years, of those 42 members, 14 were dismissed, 20 resigned, 6 retired, 1 was medically discharged, and 1 was subject to compulsory retirement. Resignations, retirements and medical discharges occurred either in advance of the date of conviction or shortly after the conviction, which can impact on the conclusion of a potential dismissal.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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298. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if drones are being considered for An Garda Síochána. [27825/24]

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

The Garda Air Support Unit is a national resource based at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co. Dublin and is under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the operational control of Superintendent, Operational Support Services. The unit provides a 24-hour proactive and reactive service in support of operational Gardaí on the ground and specialist units.

I am advised that this unit is currently conducting research and evaluation of the potential use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/drones in a live policing environment within An Garda Síochána.

Upon completion of the evaluation project, recommendations will be made on how best to introduce this technology for use within An Garda Síochána. Legislation currently limits the operational use of drones by An Garda Síochána, however, the Deputy will be aware that the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 will provide a legal basis for the use of recording devices on drones by Gardaí on commencement of the Act, subject to a code of practice.