Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Given the current economic circumstances the Garda overtime bill, which is not a matter for me - so I will not comment on it - has been reduced. There is no doubt about that. In the current circumstances, there is a general acceptance that we must reduce or adjust our expenditure to the tune of approximately €4 billion in this year's budget. That cannot be done without changing work practices.

I acknowledge the role the Garda traffic corps has played. It has been and should be possible to deploy its members during a regular eight hour shift. Admittedly, that will be during unsocial hours but the work has to be organised in that particular way. No one can have any guarantees on overtime, be it in the health service, the Garda Síochána or any other sector in the future. We have to be flexible and change work practices and ensure that the services are available at the time they are needed by the public.

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