Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
145. Deputy John Brassil asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will allow entry into the Garda Reserve to persons that had an exemption from languages in school; if this exemption will be allowed to stand and application to the Garda Reserve processed without meeting the two language criteria as outlined as part of the qualifying requirements for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19713/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, the recruitment and training of the Garda Reserve is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I as Minister have no direct role in the matter.
The Garda Reserve was established in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to enhance the links between An Garda Síochána and local communities and consists of voluntary unpaid members, drawn from the community, to support the work of An Garda Síochána. The Reserve perform policing duties as determined by the Garda Commissioner, while accompanied by full time Gardaí. Their role is to provide local patrols and participate in crime prevention initiatives targeted at specific local problem areas. Reserve members are also involved in policing major incidents and events, and in providing other operational support to full time Gardaí. In recent years the Garda Commissioner has conferred further powers on reserve members under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and the Road Traffic Act 1961 and has also decided that they should carry out more duties including the serving of summonses, and the issuing of Fixed Charge Penalty Notices where offences are detected.
Admission to the Garda Reserve is governed by the Garda Síochána (Reserve Members) Regulations 2006. These Regulations provide that all applicants for admission to the Reserve must have a proven proficiency in two languages; one of which must be Irish or English.
I am acutely aware of the need to recruit candidates with the appropriate qualifications to the Garda Reserve, and I am committed to ensuring that best practice is followed with regard to any such recruitment. In this context there is an ongoing review of the Regulations for admission to the Reserve. As part of this review consideration will be given to the requirement to have proficiency in two languages to be admitted to the Reserve.
