I propose to take Questions Nos. 428, 429 and 430 together.
An Garda Síochána is committed to a human rights based approach to policing and provides general guidance to Gardaí on how human rights are to be upheld daily in the course of their work. Their response to any incident involves a graduated policing response considering relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort.
In carrying out their duties, our Gardaí, as far as practicable, consider non-physical means before resorting to the use of force in the resolution of incidents that they respond to. We must rely on Garda operational management and frontline Gardaí to use their discretion and judgment.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the policies and guidelines in place within An Garda Síochána and publication of same. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
Conductive Energy Devices (also known as “tasers”) are issued to specialist firearms and protection units. An Garda Síochána are also trialling the use of tasers by a limited number of frontline Gardaí in stations in Dublin City and Waterford where body worn cameras have already been deployed.
Each Garda in the pilot who is equipped with a CED has undertaken a comprehensive 3-day training course in the use of the CEDs before being authorised to carry these devices on operational duties. They have also attended an additional half day human rights awareness briefing.
The 3-day Taser Training Course is grounded in Irish Constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights principles and Garda policy, Garda Decision Making Model, Garda Code of Ethics in addition to practical training and assessments.
The objective of the CED pilot is to evaluate the operational, ethical, human rights, and community impacts of deploying CEDs as an additional tactical option within a graduated use of force framework, in order to prevent harm to Garda personnel and members of the public.
Since the pilot began on 18 December last, I am advised that Gardaí involved in the pilot have not used a CED. The devices have been drawn on three occasions, two in Dublin and one in Waterford, where they led to the successful de-escalation of the situation without the need for any use of force.
In order to ensure appropriate oversight any use of a CED will be referred to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman. Fiosrú have not received any such referrals since the commencement of the pilot.
A new overarching Garda Use of Force Policy is being developed currently and is at an advanced stage. Once complete this will be made available on the Garda website.
The sub-procedure documents relating to this policy will be restricted documents and will only be available internally. These would include guidelines as to the use of CEDs. This is in line with internal Garda policy procedures.
Information on Garda use of force including the use of incapacitant spray, ASP Baton and CEDs are published on the Garda website and in the Commissioner's monthly report to the Policing and Community Safety Authority.
An Garda Síochána's Use of Force statistics can be found at the following link:
www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/statistics/.
While the Garda Commissioner's monthly reports to the PCSA can be found here:
www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/commissioner-s-monthly-reports-to-policing-and-community-safety-authority/.
