Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It would be good if, for once, the Minister was honest with the people. To what personnel level is he going to allow Garda numbers fall before he realises the force is reaching a stage where it cannot take on the forces working against the State? I am not casting aspersions on An Garda Síochána and have acknowledged all of its successes. What I want to see the force do is to eradicate the problem completely. Everyone is united on this point. To what number of gardaí will the Minister allow the force to fall? Why will he not take a realistic look at the numbers and resource the force, bearing in mind that the cost of gangland activity to the Exchequer is €860 million per annum?

When the Minister claims up to 60 members of criminal gangs in the Limerick area are in jail, I must remind him that is the case because of legislation introduced by the previous Government. He is very quick to claim the previous Government was not performing. All of these gang members are behind bars because of changes to criminal justice legislation introduced by the Minister's predecessor.

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