Garda pursuit policies and the training provided to officers involved in high-speed chases will come under renewed scrutiny today as senior Garda management faces questioning from the Oireachtas Justice Committee.
Representatives of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) will also appear before the committee, following a series of incidents that have raised questions about the risks associated with police pursuits and the preparation officers receive.
The hearing comes in the wake of last month’s devastating crash on the M9, in which five teenagers were killed, and amid growing calls for greater transparency around Garda pursuit procedures.
Committee chair Matt Carthy said there appeared to be a clear difference between the position being presented by senior Garda management and concerns being expressed by members’ representative organisations.
The Sinn Féin TD said the hearing would examine whether Gardaí are receiving adequate training to deal with some of the most dangerous situations they can encounter while on duty.
“There is a real gap between what Garda management is telling us and what representative organisations such as the GRA are saying,” Mr Carthy said.
He warned that the public could be surprised by the level of training available to Garda members who may be required to take part in high-speed pursuits.
The committee is expected to question Garda management on the training currently provided, how officers are assessed before being permitted to engage in pursuits and whether existing procedures are sufficient to protect both Gardaí and members of the public.
