Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council meeting 9th July 2007
Liaison Committee
It was proposed by Councillor M. Baker:
"That this Committee would discuss arrangements for a Liaison Committee in conjunction with the Chief Superintendent of the Gardaí locally."
The following report of the Manager, copy of which had been circulated to the Members, was CONSIDERED:
"Section 36(1) of the Garda Siochana Act 2005 states "a Local Authority and the Garda Commissioner shall arrange for the establishment of a joint policing committee in accordance with guidelines issued under Section 35. On 28th June 2006 the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform published guidelines for an initial brief pilot phase, during which Committees would be established in a limited number of local authority areas.
The guidelines issued under the Garda Siochana Act 2005, Joint Policing Committees state enter alia that
"The purpose of these Committees is to provide a forum where a local authority and the Senior Garda Officers responsible for the policing of that area, with the participation of Oireachtas members and Community interests, can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area."
Twenty-two local authorities (out of a possible 114) were selected. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council was not selected as a pilot area. The pilot phase will run for a limited period and the guidelines will be reviewed and amended in the light of the experience gained from the pilot programme before it is extended nationwide.
Guidelines from the Minister establishing a joint policing committee in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area are awaited."
Following discussion the motion was AGREED. It was AGREED to request maps of district areas and of each Garda Stations remit. It was also AGREED to find out the time period for the running of the pilot schemes and bring a report back to the next meeting of the Organisation, Procedure and Protocol Committee.