Mr. Martin Callinan:

It is clear we will not make the Government deadline of 13,000 at the end of the year. As of last week, the force was at 13,472. There will not be that type of an attrition rate between now and the end of the year. Looking forward, it has always been the case that, between the years of service and the age dynamic, and the gap between the opportunity to retire at 50 plus with 30 years service and the compulsory retirement age at 60, there is a cadre of gardaí within that bracket. That is something that is optional. It is a dynamic about which one is not entirely clear. There are approximately 1,200 in that category who could go but it is unlikely that they will. It is something which we are keeping an eye on. I made the comment that I would like to see us not go below 13,000, and that is as much as I can say.

On the other issue Deputy Niall Collins raised of the strategy with the businesses, we are trying hard with the business community, particularly in the large urban areas, at working at a solution to reduce theft from shops. As the Deputy will be aware, we have a strong working relationship with the business communities here in the city of Dublin. That is replicated in Cork, Galway and other large urban centres. The Deputy will have seen the advent of the Segways sponsored by the business community as an example of the type of relationship and appreciation evident on both sides. It is about being professional. Repeat offenders are an issue and it is about how one deals with them. It is about providing the necessary security and taking steps - crime prevention measures - to ensure that one stops the type of repeat offending. All of those matters come into the dynamic.