Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister said in his opening statement that the two main areas on which there would be a focus were extradition and immigration, which are, to be fair, high risk areas. I have seen at first hand what happens in the Border area. I have seen at first hand gardaí pulling traffic from the main motorway to side roads. I commend the Government on the reopening of Templemore, which was a fantastic thing to do. However, I remain concerned because it is only in the last number of years that Garda numbers have started to rise again. The last thing I want to see is gardaí being pulled from all corners of the country to come up and man the Border. People are worried. One cannot just click a finger. I acknowledge that the Minister said 600 trainee gardaí are going through Templemore at the moment but 29 March is fast approaching. I speak to many gardaí in my area and they tell me there is talk now of gardaí being pulled from every unit and grouping nationally. People want to know what is happening. Should we not have a strategy or plan? Customs posts are being opened at airports and ports. I saw on television last night the huts being set up at Dublin Port. No one wants to see a backstop or to see the Border come back. I live close to the Border and have family and relations in the North and it is the last thing I want to see. We have had a fantastic 20 years and want that to continue. However, there is a great deal of fear that we are going to start going around the country to take gardaí from different units. I am sure the Minister and the Garda Commissioner have regular discussions on this and I understand the Chief Constable in Northern Ireland is in constant talks with the UK. Do we have 200, 300 or 400 surplus gardaí who will man the Border?