Mr President, distinguished guests, delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
I was delighted to accept your invitation to address your annual conference. It gives me an opportunity to say how much I appreciate the vital work that you do in the frontline policing of this country, to learn of your concerns, and to explain what I see as the priorities right now. Let me say straight away that I hugely value your service to the public. And I fully appreciate the dangers to which you are exposed in the fight against crime and terrorism.
In recent days we were, once again, reminded of the ultimate danger that faces those who see their calling as serving their community in a police uniform. The callous and cowardly murder of PSNI Constable Ronan Kerr will have been felt deeply by every member of the Garda Síochána.
This callous and horrifying act of criminality brings home to all of us the reality that dedication to preserving the peace and upholding the rule of law sometimes brings with it terrible sacrifices. The only purpose of those responsible for Ronan Kerr’s murder is to cause grief and fear. There is no noble cause to which they aspire and no ideology which can justify it. The changes which have occurred in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement should leave no one in any doubt that the interests of all citizens, in both parts of this island, lie in support for the police and the institutions established there.
The people who make up those groups which continue to perpetrate violence and reject the Good Friday agreement are no more than criminal terrorists.
And, as all of you here today know, there can be no doubt about the extent of their involvement in a range of organised criminal activities, including robbery, extortion, smuggling and kidnapping.
I want to say categorically here today that cooperation across a range of issues between North and South, but particularly cooperation between An
Garda Síochána and the PSNI, is here to stay. No one, especially those who ignore the democratic commitment of the vast majority on this island to the peace process will be allowed to derail that cooperation. Far from it, it will make us even more determined to continue it, and indeed to enhance it, so as to root out these cowards and subject them to the full rigours of the law. Our commitment is to maintain and preserve peace throughout the island.
Just as you have my total support in your fight against terrorism, you also have my unequivocal support in your daily enforcement of the law. The policing and security service you provide is vital to the well-being of the public and the proper functioning of our country. And of course you must have the proper resources to enable you to provide the best possible service. This might not always involve additional staff or finances, but does include, where required, better powers of investigation and proper legislative provision for best policing practice. For over a decade successive governments have promised the enactment of legislation to establish a DNA database to assist the Gardaí in the investigation of crime. I have for long been an advocate of such a database and, as you may know, at the beginning of last year legislation to establish such a database was published by the previous government. Unfortunately no substantial progress was made in the enactment of that legislation and it fell when the Dáil was dissolved. Substantial amendments need to be made to the Bill as originally published and I hope to publish a new Bill before the end of this year and progress its speedy enactment. I believe the establishment of a DNA database will provide substantial help to the Garda Síochána in its work.
Arrangements are also presently being made at European level for European police forces to have full access to information held in DNA databases maintained within the EU and the development of our own database would better facilitate the Garda Síochána and your European counterparts rapidly access and exchange crucial information that assists in criminal investigations.
I also intend to shortly publish legislation for enhanced powers of investigation of white collar crime. I hope that this legislation will be speedily enacted and provide immediate assistance with regard to both continuing investigations and with any future investigations into allegations of white collar crime.
Shortly after assuming office I communicated to the Commissioner my concern to ensure that the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation had available to it all required resources for its investigations into banking matters and into white collar crime and I was assured that all necessary resources are available to the Bureau. Work undertaken by the Bureau in this area is of vital public importance.
It is an unfortunate reality that the resourcing of the Garda Síochána, and of the public service as a whole, must take account of our financial and economic circumstances. The former Government published an economic programme and completed the EU / ECB agreement in the last weeks of 2010 which incorporated within it a commitment to reduce Garda numbers from 14,500 to 13,000 by end of 2014. This is the legacy we inherited at a time when the State is dependent on funding from the ECB/IMF to meet its day to day expenditure, including expenditure on Garda pay.
It is in this context that I hear your call, Mr President, for a review of Garda numbers to determine what the optimum strength should be. Clearly you believe that Garda strength should be greater. I have to say, first of all, that I am not at all sure that there is some mathematical formula that can be used to determine an optimum Garda strength. I believe it is more a matter of judgement and policy, taking into account prevailing circumstances. But even if there were some formula to determine optimum strength, the reality is that we are not in optimum circumstances. We are compelled to reduce public expenditure, not increase it. If we don’t restore balance to our public finances, our capacity to continue funding our public services will be undermined. It is vital for the medium and long-term sustainability of public services that the gap between Government income and expenditure is closed.
Let’s also put some perspective on this. This Government has different targets for reducing public service numbers to that of the previous Government. We have yet to make final decisions on how this will apply in the different parts of the public service. But even if the current target of a reduction in Garda strength to 13,000 is maintained, this would mean going back to the strength the Force had at the end of 2006. Many people, who think back to 2006, will question if this can credibly be portrayed as a dramatic and unsustainable reduction. I note your President’s assertion that Garda strength is public safety. What has a profound impact on public safety or successful investigations is not a matter of numbers. What is important amongst other things is smart policing, investigative skill, reliable intelligence, technological and forensic supports and co operative policing across borders.
President, an important aspect of resources is pay, and I want to acknowledge the reductions in pay which your members and public servants in general, have experienced. I want to see members of the Garda Síochána properly paid for their work, and indeed average Garda pay has for a long time been, and remains, consistently higher than average pay elsewhere in the public sector. But we are all aware of the financial and economic crisis which has led to the need for reductions - reductions which the GRA, along with the other associations and unions, have accepted as part of the Croke Park Agreement.
What is needed now is for the Croke Park Agreement to work. Central to our prospects for recovery is public service reform - real reform right across the public service, including the Garda Síochána. I will be taking a personal interest in the implementation of the Agreement, and I look forward to seeing early progress on new Garda rosters and the other important issues listed in the Garda action plan.
This really is an opportunity for the GRA to contribute to the development of more efficient and effective work practices, to the benefit both of the Garda Síochána and its members. Apart from rosters, another good example is the proposal to replace the current Garda Compensation Scheme with a more streamlined and efficient system, giving injured Gardaí quicker compensation while at the same time cutting down on unnecessary legal costs. I understand that discussions on these issues within the Garda Implementation Body are going well, and I want to acknowledge the constructive approach of the GRA in that process.
The purpose of the reform process is not simply to be more cost-effective,
important though that is, but to see where the service to the public can be improved. That is vital for the credibility of the process. Members of the public can see for themselves whether their services are getting better or not. In many cases, what matters to the public are services which, although low profile, directly affect their quality of life. I want to see, for example, an increasing priority given to community policing. I know that much good work has recently been done in this area, and I want to see that continue. The public want to see a higher Garda visibility in their local communities, and they want to see issues such as anti-social behaviour tackled vigorously.
I was disappointed to read some comments made at your conference about the Garda Reserve and of your vote calling for its abolition. It is clear that those involved in the Reserve are genuinely committed to helping local communities. The truth is that they are selflessly giving their free time to support the Garda Síochána in its work. I would have hoped that such voluntary, communal and committed support for the Garda Síochána would have been welcomed by members of the force. What originally was the FCA and is now the Army Reserve is unequivocally valued as a key component of our Defence forces. Our part time soldiers participate in training operations and are treated with respect by members of the Defence forces. A similar respect and welcome should be given by members of An Garda Síochána to members of the Garda Reserve. Of course members of the GRA at this conference are fully entitled to express their views on issues of concern to them but I regard the vote on this issue at this conference as not merely unfortunate but as also counter productive. It has the potential to sour relations between members of the Garda Síochána and Garda Reserve and to discourage the community volunteerism that serves the public interest and is in the interest of the force generally.
The Garda Síochána has always enjoyed the trust and respect of the public. Garda members are part of the community they serve. The public is aware of the work you do on their behalf, day and night, and knows the dangers you face. That relationship between the Garda Síochána and the community is so important.
Last week was both a good week and a bad week for the Garda Síochána. I want to congratulate members of the force for speedy and effective intervention in traumatic kidnap incidents involving family members and employees of the postal service. Unfortunately, last week comments made by a small number of Garda members involved in policing the Corrib dispute received widespread publicity. It would be wrong of me to comment on the culpability of any individual. There must be due process. But the remarks, whoever made them, were offensive and wrong. I cannot over emphasize the need to ensure that at all times members of the force behave with propriety and in an exemplary manner that maintains public respect and confidence in the Garda Síochána. I very much welcome the clear statement by the Garda Commissioner on this matter. I also share the Commissioner’s view that this incident does not reflect in any way the views of the vast majority of Gardaí, who are dedicated to public service.
I am also disappointed, in a different way, at the attempts by some involved in the Corrib dispute to exploit this incident with the aim of undermining trust in the Garda Síochána, and of compromising the policing of the dispute. Let’s be clear about this. The Gardaí are there to enforce the law, nothing more and nothing less. I wish the Gardaí didn’t have to be involved in the Corrib dispute. They have better things to be doing. I wish that the objectors, having argued their case with local authorities, An Bord Pleanála and in the courts, would accept the lawful outcome. I think we can be reasonably sure that they would insist on respect for the law if the result had gone their way.
Mr President, these are very difficult times. We are coping with an economic emergency. We are facing the most serious financial and economic challenge since independence. Many difficult decisions have already been taken and further difficult decisions will have to be made. The effects have been felt across society. Public servants, including your members, have had to accept reductions in pay. Many workers in the private sector have lost their jobs. But this Government is resolutely committed to taking the necessary measures to rebuild our banking system and restore our economy. We are committed to public service reform. For my part I want to work closely with the recently-appointed Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, with Garda management and with all of you to achieve sensible and practical reforms in policing.
Can I thank you once again for inviting me here today and giving me the chance to learn of your concerns and to speak to you. I hope you have had a very successful conference, and I look forward working with you in the times ahead.