Jim O'Callaghan
Question:
550. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice whether members of An Garda Síochána are designated to work full-time for RTÉ’s Crimecall TV show, and if so, how many members are so allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25116/24]
View answer
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately the information was not received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 550 of 11 June 2024 where you sought: “To ask the Minister for Justice whether members of An Garda Síochána are designated to work full-time for RTÉ’s Crimecall TV show, and if so, how many members are so allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the requested information was available.
As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including all operational policing matters such as the allocation of Garda resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
To be of assistance, I sought the information requested from the Garda authorities and I am advised that Garda members, who feature on the Crimecall, have day-to-day policing duties and only feature on the programme on request. Garda members, of various ranks, are assigned to the Crimecall Office and their roles, based on their operational experience and expertise, is to ensure that material broadcast on the programme is legally and operationally sound.
I am further advised that these Garda members also liaise with Gardaí throughout the country on unsolved crimes, on-going investigations, and public safety advice to be highlighted on the programme. As appropriate, they also liaise with the victims of such crimes. They also oversee the filming of re-constructions of crimes.
I understand that Crimecall, which has just concluded its 20th series, continues to be on the most watched factual programmes in the country with a typical audience share on the night of broadcast of 30% of those viewing television.
The programme also continues to provide significant assistance to Gardaí in solving crimes.
