Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy raised a number of points. I reiterate the increase in expenditure this year is 11.6%, which is substantial. The Garda has maintained Operation Anvil in Dublin, mandatory breath testing nationwide, policing of the Corrib gas project in Rossport, County Mayo, and Shannon security operation. These are examples of operations that necessitated additional expenditure on overtime last year, which will not necessarily arise on an annual basis. That illustrates one of the reasons the Supplementary Estimate was required last year.

With regard to the Dublin metropolitan region, since 2005 under Operation Anvil, 86,941 checkpoints were deployed, leading to more than 12,000 arrests, of which 111 were murder-related, 1,258 related to serious assault, 3,044 related to burglary and 1,047 related to robbery. The Garda is engaged in a relentless war against criminals and I do not accept it is losing the war. The resources allocated this year are sufficient for the force to do its job.

With regard to the possible legislative indigestion of the Garda, I accept a volume of legislation was enacted in recent years. I said to the Garda Commissioner and to gardaí on visits to stations that I appreciate that a vast range of legislation has been enacted and they need time to digest it.

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