Statement by Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, at Garda Passing Out Parade

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Commissioner, Ladies and Gentlemen

And especially, our guests of honour - the new members of An Garda Síochána and your families.

It is a pleasure for me to be here today at the Garda College, Templemore.

Since my appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality in June 2017, one of the privileges of holding this great office of state has been the opportunity to attend these special occasions. Because today is a momentous day in your lives and those of your family – and one you will never forget - the culmination of your ambition and training - the moment you attest as the newest members of An Garda Síochána.

It is also a really important day for society more broadly, because we are witnessing another graduating class of 201 women and men of all backgrounds, dedicating themselves to protecting and serving the public. As Minister, I thank you sincerely for choosing this life.

You have joined An Garda Síochána during a period of radical change.

In December 2018 I launched ‘A Policing Service for the Future’. Among other elements, it will redefine policing to include the prevention of harm, while also placing an obligation on other state agencies to cooperate with An Garda Síochána in relation to community safety.

One of the challenges in your future careers will be to breathe life into these new structures. Alongside your traditional role of preventing and detecting crime, you will need to build and sustain professional relationships with counterparts in other relevant state agencies, in pursuit of this new shared responsibility of community safety and prevention of harm.

This will be a challenge. But, in a sense, it is a natural evolution of the role that your predecessors have carried out.

I say this because Gardaí have always worked with the most vulnerable in our society – through the caring and supportive delivery of community policing; and in dealing sensitively with victims of crime. This is a proud tradition that I have no doubt you will adopt as your own.

Speaking of victims, tomorrow, as you may be aware, is the European Day for Victims of Crime. So it is particularly timely to reflect on the experience of victims.

Becoming a victim of a crime can be deeply traumatic. Whether the crime involved is relatively minor or horrifically major, any such experience can shake a person and leave them feeling vulnerable, unsafe and afraid.

Of course after a crime, the first encounter that a victim will have, is often with a Garda. And crucially, the nature of that interaction – the way in which you and your colleagues deal with what could be the most difficult moment in someone’s life – is of lasting importance. It will shape a person’s view of the entire criminal justice system. So please, always treat people with respect and dignity and listen to their concerns.

As Minister, a key priority for me has been to put victims at the centre of the criminal justice system and I am proud that a number of significant changes have been introduced in recent years.

The Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 gave effect to important protections for victims. Building on that legislation, I am delighted to be able to publish today a new and substantially expanded Victims Charter.

It can be daunting for victims of crime to navigate the criminal justice system as they also try to recover from whatever was perpetrated on them. The Charter aims to help them find information quickly and easily.

It details the services and supports offered by the State and voluntary groups. It also describes the criminal justice system from the perspective of a victim of crime and explains what to expect when interacting with it. It is online at a dedicated website and will be publicised by the department in a range of ways.

The Charter has been developed by my department in consultation with all relevant State agencies and organisations – including An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the DPP and many more – as well a wide range of non-governmental organisations and groups representing victims themselves.

Indeed, I want to pay a particular tribute to the voluntary groups who play a vital role in supporting victims of crime, their families and friends. I am deeply grateful for their ongoing work and their constructive input to development of the Charter.

I am also heartened by the steps that An Garda Síochána is taking to respond to the needs of victims including victims of sexual and domestic crime.

We now have Garda Victim Support Offices in all Garda Divisions, and I want to acknowledge too, the continuing roll-out of Divisional Protective Services Units.

I am confident that these steps – coupled with legal changes in recent years will bring real improvements in the experience of the most vulnerable victims. Indeed just ten days ago, we saw the first landmark conviction and sentencing in Ireland for the new offence of coercive control.

Of course if we want to provide an expanded service to the public, we must have sufficient numbers of Gardaí who must in turn have sufficient resources. Re-organisation of Garda structures, through the new Operating Model, is freeing up additional resources for the frontline. This is taking place alongside the ongoing programme of Garda recruitment and civilianisation.

The strength of An Garda Síochána is at record levels. Your class brings to 3,200 the number of new Gardaí attesting since Templemore was reopened. Civilianisation has resulted in Garda staff numbers rising by over 47% since the end of 2016 to a total of almost 3,000 today.

A key role in sanctioning of new positions in An Garda Síochána is of course played by the Policing Authority. I am delighted that that the newly appointed Chair, Bob Collins, is here today. He brings a wealth of experience, not only from his membership of the Authority since its establishment, but also from his previous roles in the public sector. I would like to wish him every success and assure him of my department’s ongoing support and assistance.

I would also like to express publicly my deep gratitude to Bob’s predecessor Josephine Feehilly. Josephine did wonderful work establishing the Authority and developing its role as a credible independent voice, overseeing the work of An Garda Siochana. The structures of our oversight bodies are going to evolve as we implement A Policing Service of the Future, but I know the principles which Josephine enshrined in her time as Chair will remain as a testament to her work.

Today however, we are here to mark the beginning of your work with this great organisation.

As you take on this challenge remember most of all, that effective policing depends on securing the confidence, support and cooperation of communities. You earn that confidence, support and cooperation, for yourself, for your colleagues and for your organisation through every single one of your interactions. So interact well, and wisely, and use the depth and diversity of experience you bring to your new roles to enhance your organisation.

I want to thank you, most sincerely, for your courage and manifest commitment to public service in taking on these roles, and I want to wish you long and successful careers.

Have a most enjoyable day with your family and friends and I wish you the best of luck in the years to come.

Comhghairdeas agus bain taithneamh as an lá.

ENDS

Statement by Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, at Garda Passing Out Parade

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