Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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My point is similar to Deputy Kenny's. I thank the Minister for his engagement. According to figures that we have, we have 650 fewer gardaí than we had before the pandemic. There is a report in the Irish Independent that we have 42 stations around the country with no permanent staff. We are advocating in Dublin Bay North, my own constituency, for a new Garda station for the huge, expanding community in Dublin 13 and Dublin 17, which I know the Minister will say is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. It is the go-to response for the Minister for Justice but we got different responses when it came to the southside - Stepaside Garda station comes to mind - where a Minister could jump in and make things happen. The overall point is about morale within the force. There is a feeling that people are leaving the force because of issues such as Deputy Kenny has outlined, but if morale is at such a point, then it affects the security of the State and people's belief that they are being protected. Those numbers speak for themselves. Is the Minister convinced that his presentation will deal with the gap in the numbers that we have had over the last years, that it will deal with the adequate staffing of stations around the country and that it will ensure that morale in the force can be enhanced? The feeling from Garda members to whom I speak is that it does not feel like a pleasant place to work or a supported workforce. That is why people in An Garda Síochána want to get out and not enough people want to get in.