Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I remind the Minister that it is almost a year since, in response to media speculation, he, along with a number of his Government colleagues, stated that regardless of the state of the public finances or the depth of the recession front line Garda services would not be affected. In the context of the retirement last year of an unprecedented number of gardaí of varying degrees of rank, totalling in excess of 800, how many of those 800 retirees have been replaced, with specific reference to senior posts. I again ask, having asked the following question on a number of occasions and received a less than direct answer, how many of the 12 chief superintendents, 26 superintendents, 31 inspectors, 166 garda sergeants and 466 gardaí who retired last year have been replaced and how many senior positions, above the rank of Garda sergeant, remain vacant as of 30 June 2010?

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