John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Normally I would not come into a committee of which I am not a full member but I am so concerned about the issues I am going to raise that when I saw it on the monitor I decided to come in. The Commissioner said it is up to the local chief to make a bid. I actually think that is quite a disturbing statement to make because I would say it is up to the Commissioner to make sure the local chief has the staff and the capability and actively goes after those who are criminally of interest to the force and that are known to be carrying out activities around the movement of drugs. That is why I am here. The drugs issue in the south east is horrendous. Any class of drug can be bought on any street corner now, in most small villages throughout the country. That is not acceptable. It is doing huge damage to communities that cooperate with the police. I would normally raise this matter at the local policing forum. This is not acceptable. How is the Commissioner going to address it?

I raised the issue of policing in south Kilkenny with the Commissioner was in Kilkenny some time ago. I want to know what is happening in relation to the bigger towns of Kilmoganny, Windgap, Bennetsbridge and so on where they had Garda stations and now do not. They have policing by appointment. What is the public support in relation to that? What is the arrangement around that in terms of allowing the public to access the policing service? What is the Commissioner going to do to restore the confidence of the public in the south Kilkenny area arising from the lack of gardaí?

In regard to tax, insurance and road issues just let me say this. I have seen cars with no tax, no insurance, no NCT and probably no licence driven by foreign nationals. The gardaí know them. I have not seen any of them prosecuted. I have not seen any of them arrested and I am disturbed by it.

In regard to missing persons, this Thursday is the anniversary to the day, when on 9 November 1995 JoJo Dullard went missing. Can the Commissioner please update us on the strategy in relation to the continual investigations of all missing persons and what he is doing about them? In regard to suspended civil servants from the force, how many are there and what is the status of each one?