Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I am not aware of any difficulties in that respect. If the Deputy has particular information, he might bring it to my attention.

As they are members of the Garda Síochána, albeit reserves, I expect that all the normal back-up available to a normal garda would be available to the reserves. As always with an initiative, it will take some time. To be fair, while there originally had been some reluctance on the part of the main force to accept the reserve, it is now well embedded. When I go about my business, I always ask how they are doing and, to be fair, while there were suggestions that there was a reluctance to assist, that is not the case, they have integrated. It is a great initiative and one I want to support. While targets have been set, they will be met eventually and it will be for the betterment of the community that there are those who are prepared to work for virtually nothing in defence of their areas. We should compliment them on that.

It should be also publicly stated that there is a large number of non-Irish participating. I was in Templemore for the coming out of more than 100 Garda reserves and many of them were non-nationals, something I welcome.

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