Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I gave my response in my original reply. It is not feasible at this stage. It would create an unnecessary administrative burden on the Garda even in regard to issues that are not security determined. At the end of the day, Members say in the House that we do not have sufficient gardaí. The Government is on an upward scale recruiting. A total of 1,100 gardaí are in training in order that we reach the commitment that we made to increase the force's strength to 15,000 by 2010. This is partly being done to ensure gardaí are fighting crime. If their time is taken up answering freedom of information requests, Members such as the Deputy will be the first to complain that they are sitting in their offices answering such requests.

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