Law « Thurles Information

Minister McEntee Asks People To Consider Career in An Garda Síochána

Minister McEntee encourages people to think about career in An Garda Síochána ahead of new recruitment campaign.

Minister asks people in new Irish and minority communities to apply
New regulations remove requirement for applicants to be proficient in two languages
New Irish language strategy to be launched by An Garda Síochána
Vital that An Garda Síochána represents the Ireland of today

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today urged people, especially those in minority and new Irish communities, to consider a career in An Garda Síochána ahead of a new recruitment campaign opening early in the New Year.

In line with the Government’s commitment to strengthen and support An Garda Síochána as it protects and serves our communities, a new Garda Trainee Recruitment campaign is due to commence early in 2022.

The last recruitment competition was held in early 2019. Successful applicants are placed on a panel from which they are drawn by An Garda Síochána for training when required by the Garda Commissioner.

The Government has next year committed to the recruitment of 800 extra Gardaí and 400 Garda staff and is dedicated to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána.

Minister McEntee today urged people, particularly those from new Irish and minority communities, to think over the Christmas break about applying to become a member of An Garda Síochána.

Minister McEntee said:

“As Minister for Justice, protecting communities and supporting victims is my absolute priority, and the Government’s support for An Garda Síochána reflects that commitment.

The greatest strength of An Garda Síochána is its bond with the communities it serves. Our own national life has been greatly enriched by so many new communities of different origin in recent decades.
But significant work is still required across the public sector – not least the justice sector – to make sure our new and minority communities are better represented, as well as to improve gender equality.
I want everyone in our society, such as our African-Irish and Traveller communities, to see members of their own communities serving in An Garda Síochána.

I know Commissioner Harris and all members of An Garda Síochána are dedicated to increasing diversity within the organisation. I have discussed this with the Commissioner and I am very pleased that a vigorous campaign will be launched by An Garda Síochána to encourage as many people as possible to apply.
Our new recruitment campaign provides a great opportunity to increase diversity within the service and I urge people from these communities to seriously think over Christmas about applying in the New Year.”

The Commission on the future of Policing in Ireland noted that diversity is a vital asset to any organisation that seeks to be innovative and adaptable.

The Minister made her comments after she received Cabinet approval this week for new regulations which will allow An Garda Síochána hold the new recruitment competition.

These new Regulations, amending the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013, will 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, is also being changed.

As currently worded, the requirement for proficiency in two languages is acting as a barrier to more diverse recruitment.

Under the amended regulations, proficiency will only be required in one language – which can be English or Irish. This will remove any potential disadvantage for people not born in Ireland who do not have any experience with the Irish language.

An Garda Síochána remains committed to the Irish language and studies in the Irish language will remain part of the Policing BA. A new Irish Language Strategy has been developed by An Garda Síochána and will be launched early in 2022. The Strategy aims to strengthen Irish language services within An Garda Síochána and ensure compliance with statutory language obligations.

The Minister continued,

“I want these new regulations to send out a message and to encourage interest from all communities across Ireland in a career with An Garda Síochána. Of course, An Garda Síochána remains committed to the Irish language and I look forward to its new strategy.
I would also take this opportunity to encourage more women to apply for a career in An Garda Síochána.
In recent years we have made great strides to address the gender imbalance in An Garda Síochána, especially at the most senior levels, but I want to see more women entering the service, as I know they are fully capable and can make such a difference to their local community“.

An Garda Síochána are working to produce a combined internal and external Equality, Diversity and Integration Strategy in early 2022.

Minister McEntee concluded,

“I welcome the many diversity initiatives being actively pursued by An Garda Síochána. The Intern Programme for Garda Staff, which aims to promote a career in An Garda Síochána among young people from communities traditionally underrepresented in the organisation by offering the opportunity of an internship, commenced on 30 November with the first 26 interns.
I am confident that this scheme will be a huge success and will demonstrate to all communities that there is a place for them in An Garda Síochána.”

Person Arrested Following Garda Operation In Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

A Garda and Immigration Bureau operation was conducted in Cashel last evening (December 9th).

Officials from the Work Relations Commission; the Dublin based Garda National Immigration Bureau and the Cahir District Immigration Officer, inspected multiple business premises within the Cashel area.

During this joint agency operation, a number of offences were detected.
One person was detained, with Court case to follow.

Minster Browne Welcomes Enactment Of Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill.

The Bill replaces and strengthens laws against people smuggling.
Covers a broader range of scenarios, and a broader geographic range.

The Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Mr James Browne TD, is pleased to announce that the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill has completed all stages in the Oireachtas, and is expected to be signed into law by the President shortly. The Bill will replace and strengthen laws against people smuggling.

Minister Browne said,

“The terrible tragedy in the English Channel last month is a reminder, if one was needed, of the need to combat the unscrupulous practise of people smugglers.
This new legislation will help. The existing smuggling offence is difficult to prosecute, as it effectively requires the prosecution to prove that the defendant acted for gain. As this gain will typically occur outside the State, this has often been impossible.
The new Bill helps facilitate the cooperation required for us to continue to work together with our colleagues in the EU and the UK to combat smugglers who have no regard for the lives of the people they put at risk.”

The revised offence also covers a broader range of scenarios – it covers intentionally assisting entry, transit or presence where the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that it is in breach of specified immigration law provisions. And while the existing offence is limited to facilitating the entry into the State, the revised offence covers smuggling into other countries (including EU Member States and parties to the UN Protocol against people smuggling).

The Bill ensures that a full defence is in place to protect those acting for genuine humanitarian purposes and not for gain, or on behalf of bona fide humanitarian organisations. It also ensures that smuggled persons are not criminalised by being smuggled.

The new legislation replaces most aspects of the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000 and reflects the provisions of three international instruments against people smuggling:

EU Council Directive 2002/90/EC defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence;
EU Framework Decision 2002/946/JHA on the strengthening of the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence; and
UN Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000).

Gardaí Seize Cocaine In Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

This morning, December 7th, 2021, in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Gardaí from the District Drugs Unit, the Detective Branch and Regular units conducted a search under warrant, at a house in Clonmel town Co. Tipperary.

Cocaine with an estimated street value of over €2,500 euro was seized during this search operation.

A male in his 20’s was arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

Cabinet Approves Nomination For Chairperson Of Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Government agree to nominate Judge Rory MacCabe as a member of and the next chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
Judge MacCabe also nominated by Government for appointment to the High Court
His appointment to GSOC will be made by the President following nomination by the Government and the Oireachtas. Judge Rory MacCabe was called to the Bar in 1984 and admitted to the Inner Bar in 1999. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2007. Prior to joining the Bar he was a Civil Servant.
The Term of Office of the current Chair, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, ends on 11th December 2021.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has today received the approval of the Government for the nomination of Judge Rory MacCabe as a member of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and as its next Chairperson. The nomination follows a selection process which sought expressions of interest from serving or retired judges to fill the role of Chairperson upon the completion of the term of office of the current Chairperson.

The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the GSOC chairperson and commissioners are appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government, following resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad. The Hon. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, a High Court judge, is GSOC’s current Chairperson; her term of office is due to end on 11 December 2021. She will now return to the High Court.

Minister McEntee said,

“The nomination of Judge Rory MacCabe follows an assessment process conducted by a selection committee established by the Chief Justice; to identify suitable candidates to be appointed to the position of Chairperson of GSOC. I am delighted to be able to nominate a person of Judge MacCabe’s experience and calibre to this important body. In light of the significance of the role of the Chair of GSOC and the recent precedent, I have also received the approval of the Government to nominate Judge MacCabe to the High Court.

I will now arrange for the necessary resolutions to be moved in the Oireachtas recommending his appointment as Chair of GSOC by the President.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson, the Hon Ms. Justice Mary Ellen Ring. Over the last six years, Ms Justice Ring has served with distinction as Chairperson, providing strong and effective leadership to the organisation and has ensured that its reputation as an independent, impartial investigator of complaints against members of An Garda Síochána, has been enhanced”