Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste and I know that morale among gardaí is at an all-time low. They are deeply disillusioned at the Government's cutback agenda, dressed up with labels such as smart policing and efficiencies. Up to 140 Garda stations have been closed over the past 18 months. The number of Garda vehicles and personnel has been significantly reduced. This has had an effect in urban areas but certainly many in rural communities are left increasingly isolated.

To add to this we have Croke Park II and pay cuts which disproportionately target front-line workers like gardaí, nurses and emergency personnel. How does the Tánaiste expect a depleted force, which to a man and a woman, has been put under significant operational pressure and personal financial pressure to deliver on the Government's so-called “smart policing”?

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