IE-1924-act-25 — The Garda Síochána Act, 1924

Power to Executive Council to maintain Gárda Síochána. 1. —(1) It shall be lawful for the Executive Council of Saorstát Eireann to continue to raise, train, equip, pay and maintain in Saorstát Eireann the force of police called the Gárda Síochána. (2) The Gárda Síochána aforesaid shall consist of such numbers of officers and men as the Executive Council shall from time to time determine, but not exceeding the total numbers of officers and men respectively specified in the First Schedule to this Act. Appointment of Commissioner. 2. —The general direction and control of the Gárda Síochána shall, subject to regulations made by the Minister under this Act, be vested in the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána, who shall from time to time be appointed, and may at any time be removed, by the Executive Council. Appointment of Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners and Surgeon. 3. —(1) The Executive Council may from time to time, if and whenever they shall consider it expedient so to do, appoint fit persons to be respectively Deputy-Commissioner and Assistant-Commissioners of the Gárda Síochána to assist the Commissioner in the direction and control of the Gárda Síochána and to exercise such functions in that behalf as the Commissioner shall, subject to regulations made by the Minister under this Act, assign to them respectively. (2) The Executive Council shall from time to time appoint a fit and qualified person to be Surgeon of the Gárda Síochána, who shall perform such duties in relation to the medical service of the Gárda Síochána as the Commissioner shall, subject to regulations made by the Minister under this Act, assign to him. (3) If and whenever the Commissioner is incapacitated by illness from performing his duties, or the office of Commissioner is vacant, the Minister may authorize the exercise or performance by the Deputy-Commissioner, during such incapacity or vacancy, of all or any of the powers and duties of the Commissioner. (4) Any Deputy-Commissioner, Assistant-Commissioner or Surgeon appointed under this section may at any time be removed from his office by the Executive Council. Appointment of officers and men. 4. —(1) The officers of the Gárda Síochána shall be divided into the several ranks specified in the First Schedule to this Act, and all such officers below the rank of Surgeon shall be appointed and may at any time be dismissed, or reduced to the rank of sergeant or guard, by the Executive Council, and may be from time to time promoted, degraded or suspended by the Commissioner in accordance with regulations made under this Act but it shall not be lawful for the Commissioner to degrade any officer to the rank of sergeant or guard. (2) The men of the Gárda Síochána shall be divided into the several ranks specified in the First Schedule to this Act, and shall be enrolled and appointed, and may be from time to time promoted, degraded, suspended or dismissed by the Commissioner in accordance with regulations made under this Act. Declaration to be made by members of the Gárda Síochána. 5. —No person appointed to be an officer or other member of the Gárda Síochána shall be capable of holding the, said office or of acting in any way therein until he shall have made and subscribed before a Peace Commissioner a declaration in the form contained in the Second Schedule to this Act. Distribution of Gárda Síochána throughout Saorstát Eireann. 6. —(1) The Gárda Síochána shall be distributed and stationed throughout Saorstát Eireann in such manner as the Minister shall from time to time direct. (2) So far as may be, the officers and men stationed in a district which includes an area where the Irish language is in general use shall possess such knowledge of the Irish language as will enable them to use it with facility as a medium of communication in the performance of their duties. Regulations as to pay and allowances. 7. —(1) The Minister may, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, from time to time by order regulate and appoint the rates of pay and allowances (including conditions applicable thereto) to be paid to the several ranks and to the several grades of each rank of the officers and men of the Gárda Síochána. (2) Every Order made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution annulling such Order is passed by either House within twenty-one days after the day on which such House shall next sit, such Order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under such Order. Regulations as to pensions. 8. —(1) The Minister may with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, from time to time by order authorise the grant and payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities to officers and men of the Gárda Síochána and to their widows, children and dependants, and regulate and appoint the rates and scales of such pensions, allowances and gratuities and the conditions under which the same are to be payable, and may by any such order prescribe the penalties for any fraudulent conduct in relation to an application for any such pension, allowance or gratuity. (2) No order made under this section shall come into operation unless and until it has been laid before each House of the Oireachtas, and approved by a resolution of each such House. Inquiry into charges against members of the Gárda Síochána. 9. —(1) It shall be lawful for the Commissioner, or for any other officer of the Gárda Síochána nominated for that purpose by the Commissioner, or for any person nominated for that purpose by the Minister to hold an inquiry and to examine on oath into the truth of any charge or complaint, of neglect or violation of duty preferred against any member of the Gárda Síochána, and also by summons under his hand to require the attendance of any witness at such inquiry. (2) Any person who, having been duly summoned under the foregoing sub-section to attend as a witness at any such inquiry, shall neglect or refuse to attend at such inquiry, or shall refuse to give evidence thereat shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds, or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding three months. Members of the Gárda Síochána not to resign without permission. 10. —No member of the Gárda Síochána below the rank of Chief Superintendent shall be at liberty to resign his membership of the Gárda Síochána or to withdraw himself from his duties as such member unless authorised so to do in writing by the Chief Superintendent of the Area in which he may for the time being be stationed, or unless he shall give to such Chief Superintendent one month's notice of his intention so to resign or withdraw, and if any such member of the Gárda Síochána shall so resign or withdraw himself without such previous permission or notice he shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds, or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding three months. Duty of member of Gárda Síochána on resignation or dismissal. 11. —Whenever a member of the Gárda Síochána shall duly resign or be dismissed from such membership, he shall within one week after such resignation or dismissal deliver all clothing, equipment and other articles supplied to him as such member to such officer of the Gárda Síochána as may be nominated by the Commissioner to take delivery thereof, and any such member who shall neglect or refuse so to deliver all such clothing, equipment and other; articles shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding six months. Reputation to be evidence of appointments. 12. —If any question shall arise as to the right of any officer or other member of the Gárda Síochána to hold or execute any such office, common reputation shall be deemed and held to be sufficient evidence of such right, and it shall not be necessary to produce any appointment, or any oath or affidavit, or other document or matter whatsoever, in proof of such right. Formation of representative bodies. 13. —(1) For the purpose of enabling the members of the Gárda Síochána to consider and bring to the notice of the Commissioner and of the Minister matters affecting their welfare and efficiency, other than questions of discipline and promotion affecting individuals, there shall be established, in accordance with regulations to be made under this Act, a representative body or bodies for all or any one or more of the ranks of the Gárda Síochána below the rank of Surgeon, consisting of representatives elected by the members of the ranks or rank represented from amongst their number in manner to be prescribed by the regulations aforesaid. (2) Every such representative body shall be entirely independent of and unassociated with any body or person outside the Gárda Síochána. (3) It shall not be lawful for a member of the Gárda Síochána to be or become a member of any trade union or of any association (other than a representative body formed under this section) of which the objects or one of the objects are or is to control or influence the pay, pensions, or conditions of service of any police force. (4) If any question arises whether any body or association is a trade union or association to which this section applies, the question shall be determined by the Minister whose decision shall be final. Penalty for causing disaffection. 14. —(1) If any person causes, or attempts to cause, or does any act calculated to cause, disaffection amongst the members of the Gárda Síochána, or induces, or attempts to induce, or does any act calculated to induce any member of the Gárda Síochána to withhold his services or to commit a breach of discipline, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding two years, or on summary conviction, to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, or to both such imprisonment and fine. (2) Every fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the Gárda Síochána Reward Fund. Penalty for unlawful possession of clothing or equipment. 15. —(1) If any person, not being a member of the Gárda Síochána, shall have in his possession any article of clothing or equipment supplied to a member of the Gárda Síochána and shall not be able satisfactorily to account for his possession thereof, or shall, without the permission of the Commissioner, put on or wear the uniform of any rank or member of the Gárda Síochána or any colorable imitation of such uniform, or shall, for the purpose of doing or procuring to be done any act which such person would not by law be entitled to do or procure to be done of his own authority assume the name, designation or description of any rank or of any member of the Gárda Síochána, such person shall on summary conviction be liable in addition to any other punishment to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds for every such offence or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding six months. (2) Every fine imposed under this section shall be paid to the Gárda Síochána Reward Fund. (3) Nothing in this section shall prevent the wearing of any uniform or dress in the course of a stage play or other dramatic representation or performance. Regulations as to internal management. 16. —The Minister may from time to time, subject to the approval of the Executive Council, make regulations in relation to all or any of the matters following, that is to say:— ( a ) the admission, appointment, and enrolment, of members of the Gárda Síochána; ( b ) the promotion, retirement, degradation, dismissal, and punishment of members of the Gárda Síochána; ( c ) the duties of the several ranks of the Gárda Síochána; ( d ) the maintenance, training, discipline, and efficiency of the Gárda Síochána; ( e ) the formation of representative bodies of members of the Gárda Síochána; ( f ) any other matter or thing relating to the internal management of the Gárda Síochána. Expenses to be paid by Oireachtas. 17. —(1) Save as is otherwise provided by this Act, all the costs, charges and expenses incurred in respect of the Gárda Síochána under this Act or otherwise in the execution of this Act shall, to such amount as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. (2) Nothing in this Act shall affect the liability of any council, committee, or other body under any of the enactments specifically mentioned in the Third Schedule to this Act as amended or adapted by or under any subsequent Act (including this Act), for the several expenses respectively mentioned in the said enactments as so amended or adapted. (3) All such expenses as are mentioned in the foregoing sub-section which have after the 6th day of December, 1921, and before the passing of this Act been advanced out of public funds and have not at the passing of this Act been repaid by the council, committee or body liable for the same under the enactments mentioned in the foregoing sub-section, and all such expenses as aforesaid which shall after the passing of this Act be advanced out of public funds, shall be repaid by the council, committee, or other body liable for the same under the enactments aforesaid to the public officer to whom is for the time being assigned by the Minister for Finance the duty of preparing the appropriation account in relation to the Gárda Síochána, upon presentation to such council, committee, or other body by such public officer of certified quarterly accounts, duly vouched, of such expenses. Gárda Síochána Reward Fund. 18. —There shall be established in accordance with regulations to be made by the Minister for Finance a fund to be called the “Gárda Síochána Reward Fund,” which shall be administered in such manner as the Minister with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance may from time to time prescribe, for the reward or benefit of members of the Gárda Síochána, and there shall be paid into that Fund the following sums, viz.:— ( a ) all disciplinary fines imposed on any member of the Gárda Síochána except fines imposed to meet damage caused by such member; and ( b ) all fines, penalties, proportions of fines or penalties, and damages awarded by any court, judge, or justice or otherwise payable to any member of the Gárda Síochána on any summary conviction; and ( c ) all fines and penalties and proportions of fines or penalties directed by or under any Act for the time being in force to be paid into the said Fund; and ( d ) all fees allowed by law to be taken by members of the Gárda Síochána as ex officio inspectors of weights and measures in so far as such fees are not applicable to the payment of expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of the Weights and Measures Acts; and ( e ) all fines directed by this Act to be paid into the said Fund. Adaptation of statutory references to the Royal Irish Constabulary. 19. —(1) Every mention of or reference to the Royal Irish Constabulary or any inspector, sergeant, constable or other officer or man of the Royal Irish Constabulary (other than provisions relating to the pay, allowances, pensions, distribution or internal management, or to the liability for the cost of, the Royal Irish Constabulary) contained in any statute or statutory rule, order or regulation in force in Saorstát Eireann immediately after the passing of this Act shall be construed and take effect as a mention of or reference to the Gárda Síochána or a superintendent, inspector, sergeant, guard, or other officer or man (as the case may require) of equivalent rank in the Gárda Síochána, and if any question shall arise whether generally or in any particular case as to what is the equivalent rank, such question shall be determined by the Minister whose decision shall be final. (2) The District Justices (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 (No. 6 of 1923) shall be construed and take effect as if the expression “Civic Guard” wherever the same occurs in the said Act other than in section 11 thereof included the Gárda Síochána. Existing police force to be governed by the Act. 20. —From and after the passing of this Act the police force which on the 8th day of August, 1923, existed in Saorstát Eireann under the name of “The Civic Guard” and the Gárda Síochána raised and now maintained under the Gárda Síochána (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 (No. 37 of 1923) shall be deemed to have been established under and shall be governed by this Act, and every person who is now or was at any time a member of either of those police forces shall, subject to his having taken or hereafter taking an oath or declaration in the form set out in the Second Schedule to this Act, be deemed to be or to have been a member of the Gárda Síochána maintained under this Act, and to have been a member thereof during all the time he was a member of either of those police forces, and every mention or reference contained in any Act of the Oireachtas passed before the 10th day of August, 1923, of or to the Civic Guard shall where the context so admits or requires be construed and take effect as including a mention of or reference to the Gárda Síochána maintained under this Act. Continuance of Orders, &c., made under Temporary Act. 21. —All orders and regulations made under the Gárda Síochána (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 (No. 37 of 1923) and in force at the commencement of this Act may be continued, amended or revoked by orders or regulations made under this Act, and until so continued or revoked, and subject to any such amendment, shall continue in force and be deemed to have been made under this Act, and shall apply accordingly to the Gárda Síochána maintained under this Act. Repeals. 22. —(1) The several Acts specified in the Fourth Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in the Third Column of that Schedule. (2) The repeals effected by this section shall not prejudice or affect the right of any person to any pension, allowance or gratuity to which he has before the passing of this Act become entitled under any Act repealed by this section. Definitions. 23. —In this Act— the word “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána; the word “Minister” means the Minister for Justice. Short title and cesser of temporary Act. 24. —(1) This Act may be cited as The Gárda Síochána Act, 1924. (2) From and after the commencement of this Act, the Gárda Síochána (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1923 (No. 37 of 1923) shall cease to have effect but such cesser shall not prejudice or affect the validity of anything previously done under that Act.