Lord Mayor; Minister; Commissioner; Councillors; Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am delighted to be here today to launch new Guidelines for the Joint Policing Committees.  As a result of these new Guidelines, a Committee will be established in each local authority area in the country where a Committee is not already established. 

I believe that, over time, the Committees will make an enormous contribution to keeping our communities safe.  Fundamentally, they represent a partnership between the people, through their representatives, and An Garda Síochána.

The main changes in the new guidelines are the addition of a code of practice and other provisions for the efficient and effective operation of the Committees; strengthened provisions for co-operation between Committees; and expanded provisions for the membership of the Committees.

The basic idea behind the Committees, which are provided for in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, is clear.  It is to provide for a forum where An Garda Síochána and the local authority - the two organisations which make the most significant contribution to preventing and tackling crime in a specific area - can get together in a regular and structured way, with the participation of Oireachtas members and community interests, to consult with each other, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area.  I strongly believe that Joint Policing Committees meet an identified need and have great potential to ensure that policing is responsive to local needs. 

A total of 29 Committees were established in 2006 and 2007 in a pilot phase. The roll out of the Joint Policing Committees will see this number rise to 114 in total nationwide. The experience gained in the operation of these Committees over the past two years has contributed significantly to the content of the new guidelines.  I would like to acknowledge the contribution of all those involved in the pilot Committees.  One of the local authorities where a Committee is in operation is Dublin City Council, and I would like to thank the Lord Mayor for the City Council’s hospitality in hosting today’s launch.

I want, as Justice Minister, to the greatest extent possible to foster a spirit of national and civic partnership in tackling crime.  The Committees, because they are designed to have a broad range of activities and because of their membership, are an excellent example of such a partnership.  Thus they monitor two broad areas.  The first is the levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in an area, including in particular patterns and levels of misuse of alcohol and drugs.  The second is the broader issue of the factors underlying and contributing to crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. 

Following on from this, a Committee as a whole advises the local authority and the Garda Síochána on how they might best perform their functions, having regard to the need to do everything feasible to improve the safety and quality of life and to prevent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the area.  A Committee should also reach out to the local community by arranging and hosting public meetings periodically on matters affecting the policing of the local authority area. 
Much media attention is, understandably, given to the more serious forms of crime, but the reality is that the day to day lives of the vast majority of the people we serve are much more likely to be directly affected by crimes which, while regarded as less serious, in fact can have very serious adverse affects on the quality of life in our communities. 

Strong provisions are already in place to combat anti-social behaviour and are strengthened whenever it is necessary to do so.  However, the two groups which have the best picture of the problems relating to crime in our communities are members of An Garda Síochána and public representatives.  They are the people to whom communities look to address these problems.

I am very aware that individual members of An Garda Síochána and public representatives have always tried to work closely together to solve problems in the communities they serve.  Joint Policing Committees provide a structured way in which Gardaí and public representatives can come together, along with other community interests, to address the problems of crime - and, indeed, the problems that may be contributing to crime - in their areas.

It is also appropriate that these new Guidelines are being launched this week as it is Garda Community Safety Week.  The Week is aimed at reminding the public of the importance of being aware of simple, yet effective, community safety and crime prevention messages. 

During this week, Gardaí are hosting a wide range of initiatives both locally and nationally to highlight community safety for people of all ages spanning the entire range from children at primary school to older people.  Community policing will be at the core of the activities for the week.  The public will see a strong Garda presence on the beat.  The Garda Schools Programme will be particularly active in conveying community road safety information to our school pupils.  I welcome particularly the emphasis on making our senior citizens feel safe.  These people helped make our country what it is today and who, above all, deserve to be let live out their lives peacefully.

I commend the Garda Commissioner and An Garda Síochána on this initiative bringing community safety and crime prevention to public attention.  It reflects the spirit of partnership between the Garda Síochána and the community it serves.  It is on that partnership that I as Minister will continue to build so that, together, we can keep our communities safe.

Following consultation with my colleagues, the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, and drawing upon experience gained in the operation of the 29 pilot Committees we can now launch the new guidelines here today and allow for the roll out of the Committees to all local authorities.

I thank you all for your commitment to the Committees already functioning and the hard work you put into their operation.  Your contributions to the running of the pilot Joint Policing Committees will contribute immensely to the roll out of the committees countrywide.

Thank You.