Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)

It is unfortunate the Minister has demeaned his office with cheap remarks. I can assure him that my reputation as a partner to the Garda Síochána in Donegal is second to none. I ask him to check with the Garda Commissioner and his colleagues as to my reputation in Donegal in that regard. I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in confronting criminality in that county over recent years.

To deal with the issue at hand, I note the Minister has failed to make it clear that no Garda stations in Donegal will close under his watch. I appeal to him to take the opportunity to do so in this House. There are headlines across the county and I am receiving e-mails, as are his Government colleagues, from communities, from groups representing the elderly and from community watch groups who are deeply concerned about these suggestions. With a few words, the Minister could solve this problem now. I ask him to state categorically that he will not close any Garda stations and that he will not accept any closure of Garda stations in Donegal under his watch. That is the challenge. I plead with him to take up this challenge today.

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