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Minister McEntee opens new recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána in its centenary year.
Minister urges members of new Irish communities, women and people from minority groups to apply.
Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee, TD, has today urged anyone who wants to join An Garda Síochána to apply for a position in the service as she opens a new recruitment campaign.
The Minister said that, as we celebrate 100 years of service from An Garda Síochána, the Government is increasing the number of Gardaí on our streets.
Budget 2022 has provided for the recruitment of up to 800 Gardaí and 400 Garda staff this year and many of those recruited will be drawn from this competition.
She has also urged members of new Irish communities, women and people from minority groups to consider a career in An Garda Síochána.
Both the Government and the Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in our police service.
Minister McEntee said:
“This recruitment campaign is of particular significance as we this year celebrate 100 years of An Garda Síochána. There has never been a better time to join the Gardaí as we work towards a policing service for the future that is valued for the essential public service it provides.
A cornerstone of the vital work of An Garda Síochána is its engagement with communities and my hope is that we can have a policing service that is as diverse as the communities it serves.
I urge anyone who wants to join An Garda Síochána to apply, but I want to particularly encourage women to consider a career with the Gardaí. Significant efforts have been made to increase the proportion of women in the service, and we are ahead of many other countries, but we still have a long way to go.
Equally, I want to encourage people from our new Irish communities and minority groups to consider applying for what is a worthwhile and valued career.
I welcome the fact that the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, is focused on creating a policing service which values equality, diversity and inclusion because it is so important that every person in the country feels that they are reflected in the Garda members they see on the street or in their local station.
Of course, we want a policing service that is diverse not only in gender and ethnicity, but also in socio-economic and geographical background. I would encourage all those with an interest in joining to visit publicjobs.ie and to consider applying.”
The Garda Commissioner has put a welcome focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, as An Garda Síochána seek to embed the principle that human rights are the foundation and the purpose of policing in Ireland.
This has included changes to Garda uniform policy, the establishment of the Garda National Diversity Forum, and representation from diverse and minority communities in the Garda Reserve. An Garda Síochána are working to produce a combined internal and external Equality, Diversity and Integration Strategy in early 2022.
The competition is the first held since new Regulations were introduced, amending the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013, to allow for a broader appeal for service with An Garda Síochána to reflect the increasing diversity of Irish Society.
In addition to technical amendments required to reflect changes in legislation from the Refugee Act 1996 to the International Protections Act 2015, the requirement for applicants to be proficient in two languages, one of which must be English or Irish, has also been changed. Under the amended regulations, proficiency is now only required in one language – which can be English or Irish.
An Garda Síochána remains committed to the Irish language and studies in the Irish language will remain part of the Policing BA delivered to all trainee Gardaí in the Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary.
A new Irish Language Strategy has been developed by An Garda Síochána and will be launched early this year. The Strategy aims to strengthen Irish language services within An Garda Síochána and ensure compliance with statutory language obligations.
* 122 Gardaí attested today with a further 26 to attest in the coming weeks
* Minister encourages all those interested in joining An Garda Síochána, and particularly women and those from minority communities, to consider applying in upcoming recruitment competition
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has welcomed the attestations of 122 members of An Garda Síochána at the Garda College, Templemore, today. The newly attested members have now completed their training and will be placed in Garda Divisions throughout the country. A further 26 trainees are currently restricting movements in line with public health guidelines and will be attested in the coming weeks.
Minister McEntee said: “I wish to commend the newly attested members of An Garda Síochána who, in joining the ranks today, have demonstrated their commitment to providing a trusted and effective policing service that is valued for the public service it provides. The continued and determined response by the members of An Garda Síochána to the COVID-19 pandemic has been exemplary and their dedication to providing a safe and dependable policing service for the people of Ireland during these challenging times is greatly appreciated by us all. In particular, Operation Faoiseamh has actively sought to connect with victims of domestic abuse, who are amongst those who are most vulnerable to the circumstances of the pandemic.”
While recruitment has been impacted over the last two years by the COVID-19 pandemic, this month’s attestations will bring the total number of members of An Garda Síochána to approximately 14,411, a substantial increase from 12,943 Garda members in 2016. A further 235 trainees are currently in training.
Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of Government to ensuring that our communities are safe and that An Garda Síochána has the resources required to operate effectively. The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of over €2 billion for 2022. This includes provision for the recruitment of 800 new Garda recruits and 400 Garda staff in 2022 – an additional 1,200 personnel. A new recruitment competition is due to be launched shortly.
The Minister further added, “It is vital that everyone in our society sees members of their own communities serving in An Garda Síochána. I know that the Garda Commissioner and all members of An Garda Síochána are dedicated to increasing diversity within the organisation. 27% of those attesting this week are female while 21 of the Gardaí were born outside the State, including from Poland, Brazil, Ukraine and Lithuania amongst other countries. This is very welcome. The new recruitment campaign provides a very valuable opportunity to further increase diversity within the organisation and I would urge anyone with an interest in joining our national police service – and in particular women and members of minority communities – to consider applying when the competition opens.”
Cannabis and other illegal narcotics, with a street value of over €330,000 have been seized by Revenue at two premises in Co. Dublin.
Using sniffer dogs, Revenue officers have sized 15.5kgs of herbal cannabis, 5,528 Zopiclone tablets, a small quantities of CMC crystals, hash cakes, butane honey oil, cannabis resin, cannabis oil and LSD tablets, all hidden in various parcels.
Same parcels originated initially in the USA, Canada, Spain, UK and Holland, were labelled as other items such as Tea, Christmas gifts, Coffee Beans, Textiles and Food Stuffs.
According to Revenue Officers, these parcels were destined for addresses in counties Tipperary, Dublin, Louth, Kildare, Cork, Kerry, and Wexford.
Further investigations into the drugs seizures remain ongoing.
Gardaí seize cocaine following a search in North Tipperary on St Tibbs Eve, (yesterday December 23rd).
The search by Gardai, in Roscrea, undertaken as part of ‘Operation Tara’ yesterday morning seized 47 grams (approx. 1.66 ounces) of cocaine, latter with an estimated street value of €4,700, together with other drug paraphernalia, including a weighing scales.
While to-date no arrests have been made at this stage of the investigation, Gardai are understood to be following a definite line (pardon the pun) of enquiry.
Minister McEntee relaunches advert campaign assuring domestic abuse victims that help is ‘Still Here’.
‘Still Here’ TV, radio and social media adverts relaunched to inform and reassure that help and support continues to be available over the Christmas and New Year.
Domestic abuse incidents will continue to be prioritised by An Garda Síochána, the Courts and the Legal Aid Board during the pandemic.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has announced that ‘Still Here’, the national awareness campaign on domestic abuse, will be relaunched today.
The Still Here campaign was developed in April 2020 in response to the restrictions on movement imposed by the pandemic. It informs and reassures people that supports and services continue to be available to those at risk or experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence. This message is particularly important over the Christmas period, when reports of domestic abuse can escalate.
Speaking of the campaign, Minister McEntee said,
“Unfortunately, we know that home is not a safe place for all of us.
I want victims of domestic and sexual abuse to know that they are not on their own, particularly at this time of year. An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and other services, including the vital supports provided by our community and voluntary sector, are still here for you over the Christmas period.
I am acutely aware the risk for anyone living in an abusive relationship or in fear for their safety increases during these weeks, as does the risk of reduced contact with trusted professionals and service providers.
I am committed to doing everything I can to continue to inform those at risk that help and support is available. Finally I want perpetrators to know there will be no let-up in our efforts to tackle domestic and sexual violence.”
Ministers McEntee has restarted the TV, radio and social media elements of the campaign to remind people of the Still Here message and to reach as wide an audience as possible.
Since the start of the pandemic, and in recognition of the added vulnerability of victims of domestic abuse, An Garda Síochána has attached the highest priority to domestic abuse incidents including through ‘Operation Faoiseamh’.
This is an ongoing initiative designed to ensure victims of domestic abuse are supported and protected. There also continues to be a particular focus on arresting and bringing before the courts those offenders who have breached domestic violence legislation, in particular Court Orders obtained under the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act 2018.
Minister McEntee added,
“One measure of the success of this initiative was the increase in the number of files relating to domestic abuse going to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.”
The Courts Service continue to prioritise domestic abuse cases, including access for anyone requiring emergency orders. Anyone seeking information should contact their local court office for more information or visit www.courts.ie/domestic-abuse for contact details and information about various applications that victims of domestic abuse can apply for.
The Legal Aid Board also continues to prioritise domestic abuse cases and all law centres will be open or contactable on the working days over Christmas. Anyone in need of legal advice service should contact their local centre, with more information on www.legalaidboard.ie
The campaign – which started with two weeks of intensive TV, radio and social media adverts – has continued on the Department’s social media platforms throughout the pandemic.
Information on services and supports for victims are available HERE
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