Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Some of my questions interlink with the issues to which Deputy Chambers has alluded. In terms of the figures, I would make the point that the CSO made it clear that it welcomed the significant improvement. It behoves us, as committee members, to be accurate in our comments rather than using terminology which does not reflect what the CSO stated.

I have a couple of questions. In terms of Garda recruitment, I welcome the figure of 5,000 applications. That so many people in our society are willing to become involved in An Garda Síochána, which is at the core of protecting our communities and our country, is very welcome. In that regard, the additional numbers coming through the recruitment process this year are welcome but I refer to the deployment of those recruited throughout the country, between urban and rural areas. How will that address the Minister's comments about tackling urban crime, which is the subject of a great deal of reporting, but also rural crime as well?

I want to raise another issue, which has not been raised by previous speakers. In light of the comments made by the British Prime Minister on Brexit, which are contrary to what we in this country will no doubt work for tirelessly and what we would like to see, which would be some form of soft exit without the imposition of a Border, there must be substantial implications from that, not least in terms of a planning process but also budgetary implications in terms of policing between the North and the South. As we know, a large number of criminal groups have tried to wreck our economy for decades in their funding efforts for various others. If we are to go towards a hard Border, which none of us wants, what provisions can be put in place to address that? Otherwise, that will once again be a major financial drain on the resources of both the Minister's Department and An Garda Síochána? I may contribute again after the Minister has answered those two questions.