Drug testing for gardaí is due to commence by the end of the year, according to a plan published by the Department of Justice today to counter the threat of internal corruption within An Garda Síochána.
The introduction of drug testing was one of 34 recommendations in a garda inspectorate report on tackling garda corruption published in March of last year.
The legislation to allow for gardaí to be drug tested has been enacted and the policy published, but consultations are ongoing with garda associations and unions in relation to the development of a substance misuse procedure document.
The report also says the development of regulations to give effect to the drug testing legislation is also ongoing.
A recommendation by the garda inspectorate that all evidence and property should be properly stored and that processes and facilities should be in place to ensure the safe and secure management of property is still ongoing and has not been completed.
There have been a number of cases where evidence has been lost and property such as cash has been stolen from garda stations, including thousands of euro from garda stations in Dublin and Louth in separate incidents.
A recommendation that gardaí should introduce a practice of recording contemporaneously property seized during a search and leaving a record with a person present is not due to be implemented until next year.
A criminal investigation is currently underway in Dublin after a member of the public alleged gardaí stole money and other items from their home during a search.
The report also says that a new directive outlining procedures in relation to applications by gardaí to withdraw prosecutions from before the courts is currently being considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions and due to be introduced early next year.
Just two of the garda inspectorate's anti corruption report's 34 recommendations have been fully implemented.
One recommendation is that gardaí ensure there is clarity regarding completion of the ethics in public office declarations.
Another is to ensure that the Anti-Corruption Unit has visibility of all reports of wrongdoing, including garda-managed protected disclosures, to ensure understanding of the risk within the organisation.
Thirteen other recommendations have been partially completed, while the other 19 are ongoing.
The three recommendations for the Department of Justice and one for the Department of Transport have yet to be implemented.
The report says eight of the recommendations are due to be completed by the end of the year, another 14 next year and the remaining ten in 2024 or beyond.
The Minister for Justice said today that the vast majority of gardaí serve the organisation and the State with integrity each and every day of their careers.
However, Helen McEntee said that the unique nature of policing means it is one which is open to the threat of corruption, and An Garda Síochána is not alone in this.
The minister also said that this report will help ensure that An Garda Síochána has the appropriate structures and measures in place to guard against that threat.
