Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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I wholeheartedly endorse what Senator McDowell said regarding the Garda Reserve numbers. It makes eminent sense that we have additional visible bodies on the street, whether they are full-time attested gardaí or part-time reservists. It does not really matter to the public, as long as they feel safe.

My question relates to rank and file morale. I have not met every member of the force, or anything like it, but anybody I have met complains about Garda morale in the rank and file being very low. They are complaining about something that touches on what Senators McDowell and Gallagher said about visibility. Gardaí are tied up in a lot of paperwork in stations and are not out on the streets. All that paperwork does not reflect the work they thought they joined the force to do. They are complaining about the fleet being in a heap and about insufficient vehicles. The public is complaining that when they ring up a local Garda station, "the car" is not available. I am not talking about a rural station. I am talking about one of the busiest stations in the country. Gardaí are also complaining about the new uniform falling about. They do not feel comfortable in it and it does not suit anything less than the perfect body image. Perhaps the Commissioner will address that.