Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024
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Chapter 7 Codes of ethics, standards of integrity, unauthorised disclosure of information | ||
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Code of ethics for members of garda personnel | ||
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78. (1) The Authority shall issue a code of ethics that includes— | ||
(a) standards of conduct and practice for members of garda personnel, and | ||
(b) provisions to encourage and facilitate the reporting by members of garda personnel of wrongdoing in An Garda Síochána. | ||
(2) The Authority shall, before issuing a code of ethics under this section, consult with the following in relation to the content of the code: | ||
(a) the Minister; | ||
(b) the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; | ||
(c) the Garda Commissioner; | ||
(d) the Board; | ||
(e) the associations established in accordance with section 59 (1); | ||
(f) any recognised trade union or staff association representing members of garda staff; | ||
(g) the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission; | ||
(h) the Standards in Public Office Commission; | ||
(i) the Police Ombudsman; | ||
(j) any other person or body appearing to the Authority to have an interest in the matter. | ||
(3) In preparing a code of ethics under this section, the Authority shall have regard to— | ||
(a) the policing principles, | ||
(b) the standards, practices and procedures applicable to the conduct of police officers and police staff in Member States of the European Union other than the State, and the United Kingdom, and | ||
(c) any relevant recommendations of the Council of Europe. | ||
(4) The Authority may amend a code of ethics issued under this section and references in this section to issuing a code of ethics shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as including references to amending such a code. | ||
(5) The Authority may revoke a code of ethics issued under this section. | ||
(6) Whenever the Authority issues a code of ethics under this section, the Authority shall provide the Minister with a copy of the code so issued and the Minister shall, as soon as practicable after he or she receives it, cause a copy of it to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. | ||
(7) The Authority shall publish a code of ethics issued under this section on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Authority or in such other manner as the Authority considers appropriate. | ||
(8) The Garda Commissioner shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure— | ||
(a) that all members of garda personnel have read and understood a code of ethics issued under this section, and | ||
(b) that a record is kept of the steps taken under paragraph (a) in relation to each member of garda personnel. |