Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)

I thank the Minister. Good policing is about taking the heat out of potentially tense situations. This forms part of the Garda's training process. However, I would question whether having access to pepper spray assists that process. I hope it will be kept under ongoing review. Gardaí did not have access to pepper spray until 2008, yet I am sure the Minister would agree that the Garda Síochána was policing situations well prior to that time, including large events.

I draw the Minister's attention to cases of people being unhappy with policing, for example, at Rossport in County Mayo where citizens were engaging in political activity. Issues needed to be investigated. It is in the interests of good policing to monitor these situations closely. The less that facilities such as this spray are used, the better. Pepper spray has an effect on the person on whom it is used. The Minister must be vigilant in this regard.

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