Check against Delivery

 

28 April 2015　

Mr President, distinguished guests, delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

 

Thank you very much for inviting me to speak at your conference today.

 

It is a privilege and honour to be here to publicly acknowledge on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government the work that you and your colleagues carry out on a daily basis, to acknowledge the work that you do in maintaining the security of the state and in keeping communities across the country safe.

That work is challenging and demanding. It requires courage and dedication. In some instances, tragically, members have paid the ultimate price for their dedication to duty. We should never forget this.

 

During the course of my own travels, be they in my constituency or as I encounter Gardaí around the country, I am acutely aware of the work that you carry out on the ground, your engagement with communities and your work with victims.

 

For this I say thank you.

 

This is your key role and it cannot be and should never be taken for granted - I can assure you that neither you as individuals nor the Garda Síochána as an organisation are viewed as a cost item on a balance sheet. Your members are, to quote yourself, at the coalface of policing and you bring your unique skills, experience and professionalism to bear on that role.

 

Mr. President, I listened to your comments carefully.

I hear your concerns clearly.

I know you speak for your members.

I’m aware of the challenges and difficulties you speak of.

 

So today, as Minister for Justice & Equality, I wish to reaffirm my absolute commitment to working with you to seek to turn the tide... to rise from the low ebb you speak off.

 

Let me start on the issue of pay.

 

Today we had the Spring Economic Statement. Minister Howlin committed to a new ‘National Economic Dialogue’. The Government has reaffirmed our intention to engage with Public Service staff representatives regarding the gradual unwinding of the emergency measures implemented under the FEMPI Acts; in parallel of course with the continuing improvements to the economy and public finances. I expect further positive progress on these matters in the coming days as we come to the end of the first quarter and the financial position becomes clearer.

 

Mr. President, I hope this will provide the GRA and the other Garda representative bodies with an opportunity to engage on some of the very serious issues you addressed in your speech.

 

You will also be aware that issues around the revised sick leave scheme in the public service are currently before the Court of Appeal. We all await the outcomes of their consideration of this matter.

 

You referred to issues of collective bargaining, membership of ICTU and giving Gardaí the right of strike.

Let me be clear.

My Department is currently working on a continuing response to the Council of Europe decision and as I said at the time there will be engagement with all the relevant parties to seek solutions to these issues which respect the Charter.

 

We will not make final decisions until we have considered fully all of the matters involved; and until we have consulted fully with all parties including the Garda representative bodies.

 

I look forward to further engagement with your Executive Committee on this matter.

 

I am acutely aware of the consequences for you of the economic situation in the country and I’m also aware that resourcing was severely cut as a result of the economic meltdown.

This Government has now turned the corner.

This is due to sound, albeit difficult, economic management.

Our management of the economy is paying off.

As we have seen in the area of policing, we have been able to invest significantly for the first time in years, in Garda recruitment, in Garda vehicles, in Garda buildings; and in new ICT infrastructure and systems.

But if we wish to continue that investment then we must continue to ensure economic stability and we must continue to work to protect the recovery.

 

Focussing on the investment to date; we have invested €27.5 million in new Garda vehicles since 2012, marking a massive increase on the €4.8 million provided for in Budgets 2009-2011. The latest 370 new Garda vehicles have begun coming on stream since the start of this year.

 

I know that these new vehicles are vital in ensuring Gardaí can be mobile, responsive and visible in the community, as well as being critical to supporting the work of the Traffic Corps and national units.

 

In this year's budget we also provided €42 million to start the building of the three new Divisional Headquarters in Galway, Wexford and Kevin Street.

 

And an additional €4 million for ICT - and that's just the beginning.

 

We can all agree that out-dated paper-based practices must be consigned to history and we must move with confidence; and resources, into the digital era. The recent report of the Garda Inspectorate on Crime management has highlighted many of the issues that need to be addressed.

 

With my support, the Commissioner has already established a multi-agency working group to develop a coherent long-term ICT strategy. This Group which includes senior officials of my Department and the Government’s Chief Information Officer is examining the types of systems required and the scale of investment necessary. Their work is vital in providing a firm, evidence-based justification for additional investment; and in turn will greatly aide my ongoing engagement with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin. Minister Howlin will shortly announce a new multi-annual Capital Investment Framework. I have sought that increased investment in Garda ICT system be included in the new Framework and I am confident we will be in a position to make some substantial announcements very shortly.

 

Of course, the most important resource which An Garda Síochána has at its disposal is its people. Policing is, of course, ultimately about people.

 

Mr President, I accept fully that the lack of recruitment coupled with ongoing retirements has increased the workload on remaining Gardaí

Similarly, I accept that no organisation can expect to flourish if it is not recruiting and bringing in new people.

It has therefore been of fundamental importance to me that I restart Garda recruitment. As you know, this has been a top priority for me.

 

Last September, we reopened the Garda College for new recruitments for the first time since 2009.

We will not let it close again to new recruits.

 

Three hundred have already started their training.

The first 99 attested last Thursday.

A gloriously sunny day.

A truly happy day for the new Gardaí and their families.

A day of symbolism and hope for An Garda Síochána as new recruits were dispatched to communities nationwide for the first time in over five years.

 

I promised seamless ongoing recruitment and I am delivering on that promise.

250 more recruits will enter Garda College over the coming months.

I know that this alone will not reverse the fall in number of recent years.

You have acknowledged the ramping-up of recruitment. It is a start, followed by an intensification; and we will continue.

 

All of this is further supported by the recent recruitment of specialist personnel for specialist positions. I want to see ongoing recruitment of civilian administrative, technical and analyst posts so as to both free-up ‘sworn’ Gardaí for frontline policing duties and to enhancing the service’s investigative and analysis capacities.

 

I am also happy to report that competition for promotion to the ranks of Sergeant will commence as early as possible. Of course the Commissioner has also authorised the appointment of 185 new Sergeants in the last twelve months.

 

This increased investment, across-the-board, will ensure a sustainable future for An Garda Síochána and equip it to meet the realities and challenges of 21st century policing and security.

 

This investment is also vital in supporting and underpinning the new Transformation Programme and Anti-Crime Strategy currently being finalised by Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan.

 

With this in mind, I today wish to announce a further specific investment of approximately €700,000 for new specialised vehicles to support an enhanced operational response by Gardaí to current and emerging crime threats, including crimes being committed by highly-mobile gangs.

 

However in referring to the burglaries, I’m sure we all accept that the required response to such crimes does not just revolve around issues of resources.

 

It also involves the law.

 

I have always been keenly interested in listening to on-the-ground feedback from your members, regarding crime trends and what we need to do to tackle crime.

 

As Minister I am committed to implementing whatever reform I can to strengthen the criminal justice system's response to crime, particularly volume crime and crimes by repeat offenders. This includes tackling burglaries.

 

Earlier this month, the Cabinet agreed to my proposals for a new Criminal Justice (Burglary of a Dwelling) Bill.

 

Firstly, the Bill will provide that a previous conviction for domestic burglary coupled with two or more pending charges shall be evidence of a likelihood to commit further domestic burglaries; and the bill will therefore allow a court to refuse bail on that ground.

 

Secondly, the Bill will require that any sentence of imprisonment for a second domestic burglary must be consecutive to any sentence of imprisonment for any other domestic burglary committed in the six months prior to or after the second sentenced offence.

 

These reforms are directly informed by your feedback from your experiences on the frontline. I hope these legislative measures will strengthen our collective response to burglary; to keep repeat offenders off the streets; and provide greater protection for homeowners.

 

I have now commenced looking at further possible criminal justice reforms to support our collective efforts to crack down on crime in our communities.

 

Speaking of the law, let me also say that I want to ensure that the law is as strong as possible in seeking to protect you from attack and assault. There are already very stiff penalties in place for any person who is convicted of assaulting a member of the Garda Síochána Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, (as amended by section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006). A person convicted on indictment of such an assault can be sentenced to up to 7 years imprisonment. This is as it should be. As Guardians of the Peace, you must be protected from those who attack and assault you. I have asked officials of my Department to fully review the new proposals you have made in relation to enhancing your protective capacities and I will commit to further meeting you shortly to discuss this in more detail.

 

Before I leave you I wish to touch briefly on the theme of justice reform. This has been high on the agenda for the past year or so.

 

Many commentators and critics have been quick to voice their grievance regarding An Garda Síochána and the oversight of policing in this country. Some criticism has been valid as I'm sure you will agree. But I'm sure you equally agree that some of it has not.

 

I refer to the use of parliamentary privilege and the naming of individual Gardaí in the Dáil. Parliamentary privilege exists for a very good reason. But with privilege comes a solemn responsibility. Whenever that responsibility is shirked, the public representative involved should be called to account on it.

 

I also wish to strongly condemn the campaign of vile attacks on Gardaí through social media and other online means. All such activity is inexcusable, but I particularly express my disgust at the targeting online of individual Gardaí and personalised attacks we have witnessed in some cases. I commit my full support for all efforts to detect, pursue and prosecute those faceless thugs and keyboard warriors who choose to engage in such unforgivable antics.

 

As Minister, I have sought to approach the challenge and task of reform from a positive place.

For me, reform is about supporting Gardaí not to try to catch you out.

It’s about constructively supporting and promoting best practice and high standards in policing; not about providing a stick to beat you with.

Reform is about reaffirming public confidence in policing; not turning people against you.

 

This positive approach echoes throughout the measures which the Government and I have introduced:

· Establishing an independent new Policing Authority;

· Opening-up the competition for Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners;

· Introducing the Protected Disclosure Act.

 

This positive approach also features in the legislative changes I have brought forward to reform GSOC. I want GSOC to be a robust mechanism for dealing with real complaints and concerns. But I also want it to be fair and effective. In expressing that view I am very minded of your concerns, including those voiced at this Conference.

 

Mr President, I would like to engage with you and your Executive Committee on delivering acceptable, workable solutions that will improve the processes dealing with complaints against Gardaí. I do believe that some complaints could be regarded as service level issues and could be dealt with very quickly on a common sense basis.

Mr President, shortly after coming into office I met with your executive committee to commence a dialogue of listening and engagement. I look forward to continuing that dialogue in the coming weeks and months.

 

It is critically important that along with the Garda Commissioner, we engage with one another on all aspects of the force so that together we can improve your lot, so that together we can improve the availability of resources, so that together we can maintain, develop and improve your interactions with the public and most importantly - so that together we can continue to maintain the safety of communities and the security of the State.

 

Mr President, a great deal of reform is under way, especially with the establishment of the Policing Authority, but also in relation to how the Garda Síochána operates and serves the public.

 

Significant investment is being made.

 

Supportive legislation is being enacted.

 

This combination of reform, investment and support is what I want to see for the Garda Síochána and I want to see it done in a spirit of dialogue and partnership with the Garda Commissioner, the Policing Authority, all other interested parties and of course you as representatives of Gardaí on the front line.

 

Thank you again Mr. President for your welcome. I wish you every success in your conference and I look forward to meeting you again in the very near future.