James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Obviously, retention is very important. The level of resignations has increased slightly but they are still quite low and I suspect they are quite low by international comparison. However, any increase is something we have to monitor. People resign from any organisation for all sorts of reasons. We work very hard to retain. Operations in terms of rostering are a matter for the Commissioner who has a very difficult job to ensure there is work-life balance while taking into account the critical role of An Garda Síochána in security and protecting communities. He has to find the balance between ensuring members of An Garda Síochána have a work-life balance and ensuring there are gardaí where and when they are needed to protect the community. It is up to the Commissioner to strike that balance. We are very conscious of that. As the Deputy points out, there is a very tight labour market. Increased specialisation, especially with the funding for specialist units such as cybercrime, means gardaí are developing very high skills that are in high demand. Unfortunately, the private sector can offer those members far higher wages than the public sector could ever offer. I would always say the public sector, if you stay there, is a job for life with a pension. The private sector, in the good times, can look very tempting and very promising-----