Mr. Ronan Clogher:

In regard to Detective Garda Horkan, I had the privilege to serve with him. I was his supervisor in the Castlerea district for a number of years before he went into the detective branch. I would like to say, on the anniversary of his death, that Colm Horkan was the quintessential police person. He really was. The work he did in Ballaghaderreen town as a uniformed garda is exactly what we are talking about when we refer to community policing. He was all about meeting the public, dealing with the people and knowing his customers. He really was an excellent police man.

In regard to what the Deputy said about resources, of course the AGSI would have a significant issue with defective resources being supplied. We are aware, via media reports, of the issues the Deputy is referring to but we have not received any briefing from the Garda Commissioner or anybody else in relation to those matters. We will make no further comment, other than to say we would have a serious issue with defective resources.

In regard to the operational policing model, we have been very vocal about this for the last four or five years. It is important to point out that at the AGSI conference this year and over the last number of years the dominant issue has been the operating model. It has not been pay or terms and conditions, which is what one would expect at conferences of this nature, but the operating model. Our members are concerned that it is not serving the public well. There is a significant and growing frustration within the membership of the AGSI that we are not being listened to. Nobody is listening. We have been highlighting this for years. We are continuing on with a model that has not worked. In the UK, they have recognised that it has not worked and they have started to reverse out of it.

I will ask my colleague Mr. Bolger to address the 999 calls issue.