Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026
208. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide details, broken down by month and Garda division of the number of times tasers have been used in the pilot for frontline Gardaí in Dublin City Centre and Waterford since its establishment on 18 December 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15604/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra209. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of Gardaí seriously injured on the job since the start of the taser pilot on 18 December 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15605/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.
An Garda Síochána commenced a Conductive Energy Device (CED) pilot for frontline uniform Gardaí in Dublin City and Waterford, where body worn cameras have already been deployed, on the 18 December 2025. CEDs are commonly referred to as tasers.
Gardaí participating in the pilot are trained in the lawful use of CEDs. The fundamental principle underpinning the policy for use of CEDs is that any action taken which requires a member of An Garda Síochána to use a CED must comply with the fundamental principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and accountability. An Garda Síochána's 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, 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.
The use of a CED is one of the tactical options available to Gardaí when faced with violence or the threat of violence when it is reasonable to believe that such violence or threat of violence may result in injury to themselves or others, including self-harm by an individual.
In order to ensure appropriate oversight any use of a CED will be referred to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that to-date there have been no discharges of a CED during the course of this pilot.
A CED has been drawn and successfully used as a de-escalation tool on three occasions, in DMR South Central and Waterford during January 2026 and Waterford during February 2026.
An Garda Síochána have advised that the Garda Employee Management System (GEMS) does not categorise injuries as serious and non-serious and they therefore cannot provide the figures requested.
However, the Deputy may be interested to know that instances where a member of An Garda Síochána has been injured in a Use of Force incident are published on the Garda website. These reports cover the years 2020 up until September 2025 and are updated on a periodic basis. They can be found at the following link:
[www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/statistics/use-of-force-statistics-2025.html]
