Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I stand foursquare behind the Minister. She is doing a fine job and should continue to do it. I also think the Garda Commissioner is doing a fine job and he should continue to do it.

On the riot, I am probably the only person in this room was ever actually involved in a riot. I was sergeant in charge of a riot section and we faced 15,000 people on that particular day. I can tell the House that it is a damn scary place to be when one is facing a madding crowd but our gardaí did well. There is a notion about that there were not enough gardaí but are those who are screaming about Garda resources willing to fund 300 gardaí sitting in a barracks somewhere in Dublin in case they are needed on a given night? Let us be honest. We had a normal policing situation but as Senators Clonan and Ward have said, these situations can get out of control very quickly and there is very little that can be done about it. Our gardaí have to be commended on the amount they actually saved. We all know the damage that was done but there could have been an awful lot more damage.

We have to look at a number of issues with respect to An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, and I take this opportunity to ask the Minister to do so. We must examine why so many members are leaving and do not want to stay. One of the issues that the Minister is going to have to discuss with her colleague in the Department of public expenditure and reform, is that of Garda pensions because of the impact it is having on members of the force, including being a reason for some leaving. I also want to bring the head of intelligence into this debate. I have been accused of racism because I say it must be an Irish citizen who heads up our intelligence service. I ask the Minister, before any appointment is made, to consider some of the things I have already put on the record in this House.

Every single time something goes wrong in this country, the call goes out to fire the Minister, to get the Minister out. What are we going to do about that? What does that solve for anybody? Does that help the child and the care worker who are still lying in hospital? No, it does not. The same is true of the calls to sack the Garda Commissioner. What will we do then? Unfortunately, I was here when we drummed one Minister out of office. It is a despicable way to go. As an independent Senator, I stand behind the Minister. She is doing the job she is being paid to do and is doing the best she can under the circumstances. There are issues that have to be examined with respect to training, pensions and pay and the Minister should get those sorted as quickly as she can. The gardaí are serving her well.