Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have similar numbers in the Garda Síochána to the numbers in 2007. Is the Deputy suggesting the Garda was not up to the job in that year? We have more members of An Garda Síochána today than we had at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. An additional 213 Garda vehicles were purchased this year at a cost of €4 million. At a time of financial difficulty and when budgets are being trimmed, I have specifically allocated €5 million for the purchase of new Garda vehicles next year. The Deputy seems to resent the fact that the Defence Forces were allowed to recruit.

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