Mr. P. J. Stone:

I am broadly in agreement with the Commissioner on the new rostering arrangement. There is a particular issue that is of concern to us, relating to attendance at courts. It is an issue that is outside our control, as, no doubt, it is also outside the control of the committee. The difficulty arises when members of the Garda Síochána who, for example, finish work at 7 a.m. have to hang around, because they have long distances to commute, before they go to court with a remand prisoner. It is unacceptable, in this day and age, that there are no night courts, which would do away with the need to pay staff overtime to attend court sittings during the day. However, we have no control over this matter. It is an issue that must be addressed as a matter of urgency in order that gardaí can finish work in the morning, go home and spend time with their families and get the rest they require. The idea that they should have to stay on their feet for another three hours, for which they are not paid, is nonsensical. This is a different argument, however, and the one bugbear I have regarding the new rostering arrangement. The courts are a law unto themselves, but this issue must be addressed in the context of policing.