asked the Minister for Justice the qualifications that are required for the office of peace commissioner and the investigations that are carried out before appointments are made; and if there is a ratio between the number of peace commissioners and the population or any other criterion as a guide to the number of appointments made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Peace Commissioner Appointments.
14.
The Courts of Justice Act, 1924, under which Peace Commissioners are appointed does not provide that they must have any specific qualifications beyond being fit and proper persons nor does it provide any criterion for determining the number that should be appointed to the office. It is, accordingly, a matter for the Minister for Justice of the day to satisfy himself, by such inquiries as he thinks necessary or appropriate in each particular case, that the persons he appoints to be Peace Commissioners are generally suitable and it is also for him to decide how many Peace Commissioners he will appoint.
Can the Minister say how he determines the need for a peace commissioner to be appointed in any area and also how one would apply for appointment to such office; whether, if there is more than one applicant, interviews are held and, if so, by whom they are held?
The Deputy may take it from me that no such interviews are held and that without having to conduct interviews I make up my mind on the basis of information available to me. Perhaps the Deputy is misled by the practice that was operated by the party now in Opposition. Apparently, a practice evolved during their term in office whereby peace commissioners were not appointed except on the recommendation of Deputies of that party.
We are going front-ways.
I have not finished my reply.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister wishes to finish his reply.
I refuse to help the Deputies.
They are all on the Minister's side.
May I ask the Minister, on a very serious note in case there is any danger of their being too much jest, what investigations or examinations take place regarding the suitability of the men recommended to him—if there have been any cases of men who have not been suitable——
I am not aware of any such cases and if the Deputy is aware of them I should be glad to hear of them.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Will the Deputy please allow me to finish? I have adopted the policy of my predecessor. I have applications vetted by the Garda Síochána in the areas concerned.
On the matter of the fitness of candidates, is the Minister sure in respect of all those who have been appointed by him that the recommendations of the Garda Síochána vouched for the fitness of the candidates?
I have not appointed anybody not recommended by the Garda.
Then, I am afraid the standard has been lowered.
How can the Deputy make such a statement?
The Minister should not press me too much.
That is a reflection on the Garda.
I am passing on from this question. Deputy MacSharry.
Can the Minister say if, when he has all his own supporters appointed, he will have an adequate number to give an efficient service and, if not, what he proposes to do then?
Can the Minister say——
The Chair has allowed sufficient questions——
(Interruptions.)
I do not know what this means——
I have risen with other Deputies but I have not been allowed——
Next question.
I have offered on every occasion and I have not been given an opportunity——
The Deputy is too small.
May I ask a supplementary on this?
In other words, I am not to be given the right to speak in the House.
I rose to speak——
The Deputy must have heard me call the next question.
You have arranged to have this side of the House closed.
Will you give the Deputies——
When Deputy L'Estrange was on this side he was given plenty of opportunity.
Deputy Power is being disorderly.
He is being discriminated against.
The Deputies are holding up Question Time.
If the Chair had not allowed such a ridiculous situation to happen——
If Deputy Molloy would try to assist rather than to hinder——
Therefore, we cannot ask any questions?
Will Deputies allow Question Time——
It is not Question Time at all—it is answer time.
We should be setting a standard——
Is a man on this side of the House to be at a disadvantage?
It is too ridiculous.
Please allow Question Time to continue. Question No. 15.