Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Perhaps I could address the question in terms of what we have done to improve morale. In 2014, we went around and listened to our people. I mentioned that as part of our plan. We have spent the past two years feeding back to our Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the issues we are hearing from our members. My colleague, Mr. Nugent, has touched on the issues. They include the moratorium. We were no different from any other public sector agency. There were no recruits and no new people. Policing is something that requires fresh people all the time and a turnover not only for members but also for the community. Recruitment and investment in the fleet have certainly helped. New cars allow people to be able to get out and do their job. New technology also helps. We are addressing issues around uniforms as well. These are the internal issues. It is important to ensure people feel empowered to do their job.

Deputy Chambers asked what we can do. There is no doubt that the residual issue is pay. That is being addressed in different circumstances. There is another issue which feeds in to the potential to erode public confidence. Our people go about their job every day. As several Deputies have alluded to, members of the force go out every day to do the best job they can do, often in dangerous and hazardous circumstances. They do this with the full knowledge that they have the support of the people in the communities they serve. Anything that would erode confidence in that support is dangerous and has the potential to impact not alone on morale but to erode and impact on public confidence as well.