Templemore vetting of garda recruits
Deputy Kelly raises concerns that people entering Templemore were not vetted, saying this was done to inflate recruitment figures despite security risks. The Taoiseach says the priority is getting more gardaí trained quickly and says he will raise the vetting issue with the Minister for Justice.
How can the Taoiseach's stand over people being taken into the Garda College in Templemore without being vetted? People who were not vetted went into the Garda College towards the end of last year. They are being trained and this is costing a significant amount of money. They have access to all facilities, to guns, to the armoury and to a lot of information, but they were not vetted. This was done in order to massage the figures relating to the intake of gardaí last year. It was done at the very end of the year. Prior to this, all people going into Templemore had to be vetted. We have a ludicrous situation where those who passed everything to go into the college in 2023 are still awaiting vetting and have decided not to join An Garda Síochána because it has taken so long-----
Comment on this
How can the Government stand over the intake in question when the people involved were not vetted. We do not know if they will ever become gardaí. What is the Government going to do about this?
Comment on this
In terms of recruitment, everyone wants us to get more gardaí as quickly as we possibly can and to get them trained and out on the street in order to increase policing. That is the whole objective of people going into Templemore. On the precise arrangements involved, I will engage with the Minister for Justice and raise with him the issue the Deputy has raised.
Comment on this
Does the Taoiseach agree that they should be vetted?
Comment on this
If you are going to Templemore, surely you should be vetted.