Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

If we are to consider the record of this Government in the fight against crime, especially during my tenure as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda Síochána has never been more heavily resourced than it is now. The process of reorganising the Garda Síochána is well advanced and will be implemented in the first six months of next year. This process of radical reformation of the force and the introduction of new management structures was postponed by successive Administrations in this House. The Labour Party promised twice it would re-constitute the Garda Síochána. It held office for ten years and did nothing about it.

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