New garda positions are to be created in the Middle East and Asia after the Government approved an expansion of the force’s network of overseas liaison officers.

The move follows a request from the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris (pictured).

One Garda Liaison Officer (GLO) will be based in Abu Dhabi, and will have responsibility for the Middle East region, while a second, in Bangkok, will be responsible for South-East Asia and Australasia.

French request

An assistant liaison officer will also be assigned to Washington to support the operation of the current GLO post in North America.

The force will also send two members to assist the French police and gendarmerie during July and August 2022.

This temporary assignment comes after a request from the French government for help in certain tourist areas of the country.

The main purpose of the deployment is to assist French police in dealing with Irish nationals visiting the areas.

‘Crucial’ expansion

The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee described the expansion as “crucial”, given the increasingly transnational nature of organised crime and terrorism.

“We have seen the importance of international law enforcement coalitions in recent months as, through collaboration and cooperation with their partners, an Garda Síochána have enjoyed success in pursuing Irish criminals abroad, such as the Kinahan Organised Crime Group,” she said.

GLO positions are currently situated in Madrid, Paris, London, The Hague, Washington DC and Bogota.