Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I want to make this point in regard to power. I am in the process of consultation. The Commissioner has made proposals to me. Like the Deputy I will be very careful to ensure the reserve's powers are commensurate with its training and capacity. I will not budge from that because I, just as much as everybody else in this House, am committed to the success of a reserve. I hope the Deputy is not thinking of back-pedalling from it on the basis of its powers because it is for us in this House to decide. I will be putting the regulations for the reserve before this House. It is for us in this House to decide those issues but it is not a good reason for not going ahead with the force in principle.

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