National security proposals dropped from new coalition's programme for government

The new programme repeats previous commitments regarding the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána but proposals to set up a new department of domestic affairs have been shelved. Stock picture: Óglaigh na hÉireann

Fianna Fáil election proposals to set up a new department of domestic affairs, including a new national intelligence agency, have been dropped from the new coalition programme for government.

The proposal, which attracted positive reactions from security experts, was in a bid to respond to “an increasingly unstable global environment” and a wide range of threats facing Ireland — including cyber, hybrid, espionage, and border security.

Instead the programme, entitled Security Ireland’s Future, has merely promised an examination of national security structures to be completed in six months.

NCSC to move to Justice

The programme follows through on election proposals, from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, to move the National Cyber Security Centre out of the Department of Communications, in line with Fine Gael’s proposal, to the Department of Justice, which is to be renamed the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

Even though there are already two national security committees, the programme said there will be a new national security committee.

It said the Department of Taoiseach will increase its co-ordination role of national security and that a “revised” national security strategy will be published. This strategy has been awaited for the last five years.

The programme also promises a “ring-fenced budget” for the Garda Security & Intelligence Service, a recommendation made by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland in September 2018, but never implemented.

Transport policing

Elsewhere, the programme promises the creation of a “transport security force” under the National Transport Authority, not An Garda Síochána.

It said members of this force would have “similar powers to the Airport Police and Customs officers”, who have powers of detention, search and arrest.

The numbers in the force and from where they would be recruited, and how long it would take, are not mentioned.

Drugs 

In contrast to the Fianna Fáil election manifesto, there is no commitment in the programme to decriminalise drug possession for personal use.

It does state that those caught will be diverted to health services, which is already government policy, albeit never implemented, since August 2019.

Crime

The programme repeats a raft of election commitments made by the two parties on crime, including providing funding for the recruitment of at least 5,000 new gardaí over the next five years.

This would be partly enabled by a second Garda college, but it doesn’t say when or how that would happen.

The programme repeats proposals for a rural safety strategy and a retail crime strategy, including examining a possible specific offence of assaulting a retail worker.It repeats pledges to introduce minimum tariffs (jail terms) for any crime (namely murder) that carries a life sentence.

Defence Forces

The programme repeats general promises in the election proposals regarding investment in the Defence Forces, including the target of 11,500 personnel (currently around 7,400).