Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I will conclude by saying clearly that neither Deputy has learned anything. Both of them engaged in what could best be described as the demeaning and discredited politics of yesteryear. It is very interesting to listen to both Deputies. I refer to the scare achieved by listing stations which are going to be closed in circumstances when no decision has yet been taken to close any station. I refer to the demand that I make a commitment that no station, regardless of circumstances, will ever close and that I should ignore reality. Let us, God forbid, not refer to the fact that the legacy of the previous Government was to put this State into receivership and to undermine the finances of the State and turn us into a dependency of the ECB and the IMF. Let us pretend this is not a reality. However, this is not the way the world works, unfortunately. For this State and for I as Minister to comply with obligations under the agreement concluded by the previous Government, which Deputy Healy Rae and his father supported, I have to find savings of €340 million in the Estimates for the Department of Justice and Equality between now and 2014.

The reality is we cannot be any more flaithiúil with taxpayers' money because we are actually spending the money being lent to us by the European Central Bank and the IMF. We have to get this State's economy back in order. The other reality is I have the utmost confidence in the Garda Commissioner and in An Garda Síochána to make the right decisions to provide the communities with the protections they require and to ensure that those who break the law are properly and fully investigated and brought before our courts.

I will not engage in a false piece of politicking or make false commitments which I am unable to keep. Every Department will have to find savings to meet our international financial obligations and to ensure that we keep this State afloat. The alternative, which the Deputies might have an enthusiasm for, is that this State is put into bankruptcy and taxpayers of this State are required to pay even higher taxes than is the case at present. Let us not pretend that we live in some political vacuum where Garda stations of themselves have a value. What has a value is an excellent modern responsive policing service and while I am Minister for Justice and Equality, that is what we will continue to have.

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