John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In terms of station closures and associated savings, I echo the point made by Deputies Deasy, Ross and others that there is great concern in rural areas about the carrying of firearms, violent raids on commercial premises and assaults on people in their private homes. It is frightening. I encourage the Garda to do whatever is necessary, wherever these raids have peaked, to provide localities with more resources and give comfort and commitment to communities. Gardaí are making the effort to do that but at no stage in the course of doing it should resources become an issue. That in itself would be a kind of defeat in the face of the alarming escalation of burglaries and violence.