Chairman: I welcome the delegation to the meeting. This the first of a series of hearings on community policing which will take place over five days. The context of the decision of the joint committee to embark on these hearings is the engagement of members in ongoing work on the development of the criminal justice system. The committee has appointed Deputy Costello as rapporteur in examining how best to approach the establishment nationally of a workable, flexible model for community policing.

The select committee will shortly debate Committee Stage of the Garda Síochána Bill which provides for co-operation between the Garda, local authorities and communities through the establishment of joint policing committees which will review and advise local authorities and the Garda on levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in local areas, including the levels of misuse of alcohol and drugs. They will also involve communities in discussions on such matters. In certain instances discussions will be facilitated by the establishment and co-ordination of local policing fora which will be able to make recommendations to relevant joint policing committees. The committees will prepare annual reports on the performance of their functions and provide them for local authorities, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner.

[For the full debate, click on this link to the Oireachtas website]