It was revealed that there are 90 gardaí currently suspended and receiving full pay by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee after a question was raised by Independent TD for Laois/Offaly Carol Nolan.
73 of these have been suspended for more than one year, 10 for over 6 months and the final 7 for less than half a year.
This came to light after Nolan asked Minister McEntee to provide data on the number of employees in her department currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations.
It was also revealed that there are six Irish prison service staff under identical investigations and receiving full compensation.
Deputy Nolan says she is appalled by these figures.
She said: “I think these are really quite striking numbers particularly with respect to the sheer length of time that so many members of An Garda Síochána have been suspended for.”
Nolan also stated that she doesn’t believe that no one should think they can act unto themselves and expect to not face sanctions.
She said: “But we must also have timely processes in place that can allow Garda members to have their name cleared and to get back working or to be removed altogether where that is appropriate.”
According to Nolan, 73 members under suspension this long proves points to the level of severe dysfunction in the current system.
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