Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

This is a rather odd question and is what would be termed, in the lexicon of the United States and a language with which my father is familiar - Yiddish - as one of the best examples of chutzpah I can find. It is difficult to take the Deputy's question seriously as the previous Government, led by the Deputy's party, in its National Recovery Plan 2011–2014 published late last year, required Garda strength to be reduced from its then level of around 14,500 to 13,000 by the end of 2014 as part of a general reduction in public service numbers. That was part and parcel of the EU and IMF framework plan which the previous Government signed up to. Moreover, the plan prescribed a reduction from 14,500 to 13,500 by 31 December 2011 without the plan, or any subsequent initiative, by the outgoing Government detailing proposed steps to effect such a reduction. Effectively, it envisaged a reduction of the Garda force by 1,000 in the space of 12 months without explaining how that would be achieved. There was no initiative taken by the outgoing Government to facilitate this achievement.

This Government has its own overall target for a reduction in public service numbers, as set out in the programme for national recovery, and I will be discussing with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and my other Cabinet colleagues the details of how this will be applied across the various parts of the public service. The outcome of this discussion and the rate of Garda retirements, which has fluctuated significantly in recent years, will determine when Garda recruitment will recommence. It will also determine the manner in which the objectives set by the Deputy's party, when in Government, of reducing the numbers of gardaí by 1,000 may be achieved.

There is no getting away from the reality that public expenditure and public service numbers must be reduced but I am determined, as are all my Cabinet colleagues, that this will be accompanied by real and substantive reform that will make the delivery of public services more efficient and cost effective. Our programme for national recovery recognises that a key objective of this reform is the protection of front-line services, and I regard that as a priority for Garda reform. I am very anxious to ensure that if numbers are reduced, the current services are maintained.

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