The Minister for Justice, Simon Harris TD, is pleased to announce that the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 is being debated at Second Stage in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann today, marking the beginning of its legislative journey. The Minister of State with responsibility for Law Reform and Youth Justice, James Browne TD, introduced the Bill to the D\u00e1il today on the Minister\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n
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The Bill will deliver on many recommendations made by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI), marking a new departure for policing in Ireland. It provides a comprehensive and robust framework of accountability, governance and oversight of policing and security and a new approach to community safety, focused on the need for collaboration and coordination between various State agencies.<\/p>\n
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Speaking today, Minister Harris said:<\/p>\n
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\u201c This \u00a0landmark Bill provides a new framework for policing, security and community safety in Ireland as recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n It has been developed following extensive consultation with key stakeholders, including An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na and the policing oversight bodies, and takes into account the recommendations made by the Justice Committee in its Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Report and the submissions that were made by a range of contributors during that process.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na play a frontline role in preventing and addressing crime, but the sometimes more unrecognised element of their work is the role they play in preventing harm in communities, particularly harm to vulnerable people, including those suffering from acute mental health issues, addiction issues and homelessness.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Building safer and stronger communities by preventing crime and preventing harm is not and cannot be the responsibility of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na alone. It is a shared responsibility across Government, and it requires the buy-in and collaboration of other Departments and agencies such as health and social services, local authorities and the wider community working together to really effect change.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n So while this Bill will make the prevention of harm a clear objective of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, it will also set in statute the cross-Government responsibility for community safety.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The Bill introduces a package of measures to ensure that the oversight framework for policing is coherent, supporting clear and effective accountability and ultimately better policing. It provides for the establishment of a new Policing and Community Safety Authority which will merge the existing broad \u2013 ranging functions of the Policing Authority and the inspection function of the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na Inspectorate, building on their good work to date.\u00a0 The Bill also provides for reformed processes and procedures for the handling and investigation of allegations of Garda wrongdoing in a new Office of the Police Ombudsman, which will strengthen the mandate of the existing Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na Ombudsman Commission.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n We are also strengthening internal governance by establishing a new non-executive Board of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na. The Board will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation including the development of the capacity, capability and optimum use of resources and ensuring compliance with An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na\u2019s public sector duty under human rights and equality legislation. The Board will also oversee arrangements for managing the performance of the Garda Commissioner. However, the Board\u2019s role will not extend to operational policing or security matters which remain within the remit and functional independence of the Garda Commissioner.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, the Bill will improve the oversight of national security arrangements in the State through the establishment of an Independent Examiner of security legislation.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This was a key recommendation of the Commission\u2019s report, which recognised that responsibility for the security of the State did not rest solely in An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na, and is modelled to a large extent on similar oversight mechanisms internationally.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I look forward to working with all colleagues in the House to enact this important legislation this year, with a view to having it commenced in January 2024.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n Speaking in the D\u00e1il today, Minister Browne said:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to participating in today\u2019s Second Stage debate on this landmark Bill and to hearing the views of members of the D\u00e1il.\u00a0 The purpose of the Bill, at its most basic, is to support An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na in its mission of keeping us all safe.\u00a0 The totality of the changes contained in the Bill will see the policing and security landscape in Ireland transformed in the coming years – a new governance and oversight framework for policing, the strengthening of oversight of national security arrangements and structures to drive interagency collaboration and community safety. I look forward to continuing to engage with all stakeholders as the legislation progresses through the Houses.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n When enacted, the Bill will repeal the Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na Act 2005 (as amended) in its entirety.<\/p>\n \n Implementation of the Bill is progressing in parallel with its legislative journey. The Department is already engaged in planning and coordinating this vital work, in conjunction with our Agency partners, so that the provisions and the new bodies can be put in place promptly on the Bill\u2019s commencement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Minister for Justice, Simon Harris TD, is pleased to announce that the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 is being debated at Second Stage in D\u00e1il \u00c9ireann today, marking the beginning of its legislative journey. The Minister of State with responsibility for Law Reform and Youth Justice, James Browne TD, introduced the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":541,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","category-3","description-off"],"yoast_head":"\n