Speaking following the announcement that Justin Kelly is to be appointed as the new Garda Commissioner, local TD and Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Justice and Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Matt Carthy, has said that there were serious challenges facing the new Garda Commissioner.
Deputy Carthy said that the continuing failure to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in An Garda Síochána meant that there simply were not enough Gardaí to deliver on key areas including community policing and roads policing.
While offering his congratulations to the new Garda Commissioner, the Cavan-Monaghan TD said he will need to ensure that the policing needs of rural communities are met and that garda resources are not disproportionately drawn into the greater Dublin area.
He told Northern Sound; "There is a particular issue in terms of the low levels of Community Gardaí and also in terms of the number of roads policing gardaí. Community Gardaí play an essential role in the building relationships with communities, understanding the needs of communities and diverting young people from crime. I want to see the new Garda Commissioner prioritise the delivery of significant numbers of additional Community Gardaí.
"There has been a concerning number of Gardaí before the courts in recent years, including in relation to sexual offences and domestic abuse. It is important that Justin Kelly as the new Garda Commissioner ensures that bad behaviour by Gardaí, which damages the reputation of An Garda Síochána as a whole continues to be stamped out.
"The new Garda Commissioner will also need to ensure that the policing needs of rural communities are met and that garda resources are not disproportionately drawn into the greater Dublin area. I also believe the new Commissioner needs to look again at the remaining three county divisions, including the Cavan, Monaghan and Louth division in light of concerns that these divisions are not delivering for the policing needs of communities."
