Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The most striking aspect of the report is the manner in which it regards policing as involving far more than justice and security. It emphasises the importance of multi-agency groups and inter-agency responsibility. There will be a role for the agencies to which the Chair referred without naming, such as the HSE, homeless services and Tusla. It is very important that national protocols be established to ensure the level of service available on a 24-7 basis is raised. Co-operation and co-ordination will need to be further developed and supported, which is why there is active engagement on the part of Departments which might not heretofore have been readily associated with crime, justice and security, in particular, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in regard to homelessness as well as the Departments of Health, Children and Youth Affairs and the HSE in regard to the association between vulnerability, disadvantage and crime. The report also recommends that the Garda should have ready access to and support from other agencies to ensure a very active level of connectivity. Resources will be required to achieve those aims. As I am very keen that the availability of resources not be an issue in terms of the implementation of the recommendations of the report, money has been made available for implementation next year.