S.I. No. 202/1981 - Garda Síochána (Appointments) Regulations, 1981.

I, GERARD COLLINS, Minister for Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 14 of the Police Forces Amalgamation Act, 1925 (No. 7 of 1925), and section 1 of the Garda Síochána Act, 1958 (No. 14 of 1958), hereby with the approval of the Government, make the following Regulations:—

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Garda Síochána (Appointments) Regulations, 1981.

(2) The Garda Síochána (Appointments) Regulations, 1945 to 1979, and these Regulations may be cited together as the Garda Síochána (Appointments) Regulations, 1945 to 1981.

2. The Interpretation Act, 1937 (No. 38 of 1937), applies to these Regulations.

3. The Garda Síochána (Appointments) Regulations, 1945 (S.R. & O., No. 173 of 1945), are hereby amended by the substitution for Article 4(1) (inserted by the Garda Síochána (Appointments) Regulations, 1977 ( S.I. No. 1 of 1977 ) ), of the following Article:

"(1) Subject to the subsequent provisions of these Regulations, the Commissioner shall not appoint and enrol a man as a member of the Force unless—

( a ) the Commissioner is satisfied that such man is of good character, and

( b ) such man is certified by the Surgeon of the Force—

(i) to be not less than 5 feet 9 inches in height, and

(ii) to be built in proportion, and

(iii) to be in good health, of sound constitution and fitted physically and mentally to perform the duties of a member of the Force, and

( c ) (i) such man has obtained a grade not lower than D in at least five subjects, including Irish, English and Mathematics, in the Leaving Certificate Examination of the Department of Education, or in an examination which, in the opinion of the Minister, is of a standard not lower than the Leaving Certificate Examination, or

(ii) the Commissioner has been notified by the Civil Service Commissioners that such man has passed a qualifying educational examination in such subjects and of such standard as the Civil Service Commissioners, after consultation with the Minister for Justice, shall determine, and

( d ) the Commissioner is satisfied that, on the first day of the month in which the qualifying educational examination referred to in subparagraph (c) of this paragraph is held, such man has attained the age of 18 years but has not attained the age of 26 years, and

( e ) the Commissioner has been notified by the Civil Service Commissioners that such man has qualified for appointment and enrolment as a member of the Force as a result of a competitive interview conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners.".

4. The Garda Síochána (Appointments) Regulations, 1958 ( S.I. No. 176 of 1958 ), are hereby amended by the substitution for Article 4 (1) (inserted by the Garda Síochána (Appointments) Regulations, 1977) of the following Article:—

"(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this Article and to Articles 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Principal Regulations, the Commissioner shall not appoint a woman to be a member of the Garda Síochána unless—

( a ) the Commissioner is satisfied that she is of good character, and

( b ) she is certified by the Surgeon of the Garda Síochána to be not less than five feet five inches in height and to be in good health, of sound constitution and fitted physically and mentally to perform the duties of a member of the Garda Síochána, and

( c ) (i) such woman has obtained a grade not lower than D in at least five subjects, including Irish, English and Mathematics, in the Leaving Certificate Examination of the Department of Education, or in an examination which, in the opinion of the Minister, is of a standard not lower than the Leaving Certificate Examination, or

(ii) the Commissioner has been notified by the Civil Service Commissioners that such woman has passed a qualifying educational examination in such subjects and of such standard as the Civil Service Commissioners, after consultation with the Minister for Justice, shall determine, and

( d ) the Commissioner is satisfied that, on the first day of the month in which the qualifying educational examination referred to in subparagraph (c) of this paragraph is held, such woman has attained the age of 18 years but has not attained the age of 26 years, and

( e ) the Commissioner has been notified by the Civil Service Commissioners that such woman has qualified for appointment as a member of the Garda Síochána as a result of a competitive interview conducted by the Civil Service Commissioners.".

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 27th day of May, 1981.

GERARD COLLINS,

Minister for Justice.

The Government hereby approve of the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Government, this 27th day ofMay, 1981.

CHARLES J. HAUGHEY,

Taoiseach.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These regulations modify the age and chest measurement requirements for admission to the Garda Síochána, allow exemption from the qualifying educational examination for candidates with a certain standard in the Leaving Certificate Examination or equivalent and provide for a competitive interview as part of the selection process.