Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

In 2000 crime figures reached 73,000 and last year they reached 101,000, an increase of 39%. The actual number of gardaí in the force today is what is relevant, not the numbers for next year or the year after and not the number of student gardaí. What counts is the number available today.

Future plans for technology will not affect what is happening today. Is the Minister satisfied with 20 year old walkie talkies? Is he satisfied with a PULSE system which does not operate properly and which costs €1 million per month in consultant's fees to keep it going?

Does the Minister not accept that the Criminal Justice Bill appears to be collapsing under its own weight? We will need a wheelbarrow to bring around the Bill and the amendments from his office — we have only seen the heads of those amendments — and the proposed amendments from the Minister with responsibility for Children. Is there not a case for withdrawing the Bill and dividing it into manageable proportions in order to get the legislation through the Houses quickly? I am concerned that this Dáil will be over before the Bill is in place, judging by the lack of progress.

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