Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In legal history, there used to be something called reading the riot act. It was a warning to a riotous group that it must disperse or it would be dealt with. That should be used more often. It should have been used outside the gates of this House. The protesters should have been told to go away. That is not happening but it should be considered in future.

As I double-job as a Senator and a barrister, I criss-cross this city four or five times a day. The visible policing to which Mr. Justice Charleton referred just is not there most of the time. I do not know why that is the case. Foot, bicycle and motorcycle patrols just do not seem to be there. I do not see them. I welcome the Commissioner's indication that he is taking a different approach to policing the city centre in future. He and his officers must ensure there is more visible policing. It increases public confidence and deters disorder.

In that context, a matter I have raised previously with Mr. Harris is that the Garda Reserve had 1,100 members but is now down to 300 or 400 members. The plan is for it to have up to 2,000 members. If Mr. Harris wants visible policing and to double the number of apparent two-member patrols, surely the reserve would be an invaluable resource. I noted in the latest statistics published by the Garda that there are now only 100 reservists in the Dublin metropolitan region, which is sad, really. I ask Mr. Harris not to take a relaxed approach to this but to ramp up the reserve again and to do so quickly.

I say this because there are good people in our society who do want to help and support the Garda. Unfortunately, their experience to date has been very unsatisfactory.