Address by Mr. Dermot Ahern TD Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform at the Garda Graduation Ceremony Garda College Templemore

Thursday 29th April 2010

Commissioner, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to be able to attend here today at the graduation of over 260 new members of An Garda Síochána. It is fantastic to see so many dedicated, highly-trained Gardaí stepping forward to serve the public and their country. This is a memorable day for you, but also for your proud families and friends who have come here to share this moment with you, and I extend the warmest of welcomes to them.

The Garda Síochána holds a special place in our society. 
A Force formed in the wake of Civil War, in the shadow of division and enmity which we - at this remove - can barely fathom.
A Force which healed.
A Force which united - and which unites - all Irish people in respect and in admiration.
A force which has succeeded - in the words of the first Commissioner- 'not by the force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people'. 

The Irish people know and respect you for the difficult and sometimes dangerous job you do in protecting them from crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.  
They know that you do this work day and night on their behalf, and they appreciate it. 
Of course, much of this work is rewarding. 
It is good to be able to help people, to feel that you personally have made a difference, whether through preventing crime or bringing a criminal to justice. But your work can also be extremely challenging.  
Everyone instinctively understands how difficult it must be at times to challenge anti-social behaviour or to confront violent criminals.  
Everyone can at least imagine how hard it must be to be the person who has to break dreadful news to a bereaved family. To do all this takes character and commitment, qualities you have shown so clearly in arriving at this graduation day.
 
I also want to thank the staff here at the College for all the work they have done.  
The training here is quite simply some of the best policing training in the world, and I know that the Commissioner is now implementing plans to even further enhance it.
The facilities in the College, always of a very high standard, are now superb after major investment in recent years.  
And let me assure the Commissioner and everyone here that the College will continue to play a vital role in the Garda Síochána, and that the investment made here will be used to the fullest.  
Of course in-service training, such an important service to new graduates like you as your careers progress, will continue to be one of the features of the College. 
So too will the training of recruits. As you know, a temporary cessation of recruitment to the Garda Síochána has been in place since last year, after years of unprecedented growth, in line with restrictions across the public service. 
That cessation was never intended to be permanent.

I am planning to commence recruitment to the Force by the end of the year.
A recruitment drive will be necessary to compensate for retiring members and to keep Garda numbers up to approved levels.  
It is my top priority to maintain Garda operational strength at a level, agreed with my colleague the Minister for Finance, necessary to cope with the challenges you face. 
Of course, the huge investment made in recent years in the Garda Síochána has not just been about increasing Garda strength, vital though that has been. It has also been about giving you the equipment you need to do the job you have been trained to do.  
You need and deserve this equipment, and I want to pay tribute to the Commissioner for the leadership he has shown in representing your interests and the interests of the Force so well.  

So I am really pleased that Gardaí now have protective vests, better batons, pepper spray, and the new digital radio system which is nearly nationwide at this stage. Of course more needs to be done.  
I talk to the Commissioner regularly about the needs of the Force. I travel around the country to Garda stations and meet members who tell me openly and honestly about the challenges they face. It is also true, of course, that investment funds are now more limited than in previous years. But there is still substantial investment. 
Around €1.5 billion will be spent on the Garda Síochána this year, and I will continue to make the case for further investment to enable the Force to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

But that is for tomorrow. Today is your day, a day you have earned and a day I very much hope you are enjoying.  
You have embarked on a great career, a career in the service of the public. You start with the support and trust of the public, a trust I know you will maintain.  You also start with a solemn obligation, as the newest generation in the Garda Síochána, to continue its proud tradition of service to your country.
To get here today you have done so well, and I know that this is only the start.  

I wish you the very best in your careers. On my own behalf, on behalf of the Government, and on behalf of the public you will serve, go raibh míle maith agaibh.  And please, enjoy today. You have earned it.