Mr. John O'Driscoll:

Chairman, I wrote to each of the assistant commissioners, stating it is a decision of Government to open six stations. That is the policy of Government so that was to be implemented. Whatever the policy was, I would make sure that this was done. I wrote to the then Assistant Commissioner Nolan. The information gathering took place. Many assistant commissioners have issues about the opening hours of Garda stations. That is not something that was within my remit. I recognise that these are issues around the country. It was purely relating to which stations would reopen. Assistant Commissioner Leahy eventually responded, being the then incumbent when the response was issued. His recommendation was that Stepaside would be the first preference in terms of stations that would be reopened. Rush Garda station was the second choice, and the proviso being, something he emphasised, probably on reflection, that perhaps that Lusk was the Garda station that should have been closed.

In fairness to all the assistant commissioners around the country, and I know they all have issues about opening hours of stations, that was not part of this remit. That is an issue for day to day management and will be addressed as additional resources come on stream.