Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join the Deputy in paying tribute to the personnel there. They play an important role. It is a matter for the Garda Commissioner when to deploy that part of the service based on operational assessments. There are occasions when it is required and other times when it is not. It is a broader issue in the context of the overall policing strategy. The question is how best to use the capabilities we have within the resources available. That is a matter for the judgment of the Garda Commissioner. I admire and appreciate the work the unit does. I have visited it and I am aware of its capabilities and the backup and assistance it provides to members of the force on the ground. It is ultimately a matter for the Garda Commissioner when to deploy the unit in terms of the type of activity required and the issues that arise.