Shatter says ‘modest’ garda recruitment to go ahead

The Justice Minister is renewing his promise to resume Garda recruitment but there is no timeframe for the process.
Alan Shatter says he is in negotiations with the Public Expenditure and Reform Minister to hire new officers on a modest scale to ensure the force stays above 13,000.
The Minister delayed his plans for recruitment back in April, following the rejection of the Croke Park 2 deal.
He said the the rejection of the public sector pay deal meant he did not have the funds to pay recruits. But he denied at the time that he was reneging on a promise and that he is still committed to recruiting.
However Minster Shatter is appearing before the Oireachtas Justice Committee. He now says its important to have a regular intake.
“I do believe that it is important for an organisation – such as the Garda Siochana – to have some regular intakes of new recruits, even if on a modest scale” he said.
“I’m currently engaged in discussions with the colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to see how this can be best progressed” he added.