Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In 1997 it opposed our plan to hire 1,200 extra gardaí. In 2002 it stated it would be impossible for us to hire a further 2,000 gardaí but now states we have not hired enough. That does not inform the public about the issues to ensure we have safer streets in our communities.

See this speech in context