Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I commend the great work that the Garda carries out every day to ensure the safety of the public. I am familiar with the commitment of the gardaí in my constituency of Wicklow in tackling crime and protecting communities. This House knows full well that this level of commitment is not without its own costs. The aim of this Private Members' debate is to allow us to address concerns about policing plans, but it would be remiss of me not to mention Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I express my admiration for Detective Garda Donohoe and his partner, Detective Garda Joe Ryan. They stood by the State and did their duty. Adrian Donohoe paid the ultimate price. I signed a book of condolence in the Garda station in my home town of Bray. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. I fervently hope that those who committed this crime are swiftly brought to justice.

I am obliged to make a number of points in response to the Private Members' motion before the House. I am very disappointed at the sheer hypocrisy and cynicism of the Opposition in tabling this motion. In an effort to score political points, the Deputies opposite have raised issues that have the capacity, if left unchallenged, to scare people. Their approach on this issue is foolhardy and wrong. This should come as no surprise to anyone, given that they applied the same foolhardy approach when they ran the country into the ground. The very idea that Fianna Fáil, which is the party of economic ineptitude, can sit across the Chamber and criticise measures that will modernise our police force is a laughable one.

The Minister is trying to modernise our police force under difficult circumstances. The State's network of Garda stations has remained almost unchanged since its foundation. I know the Minister has already outlined the figures in relation to the changes he is proposing. It is worth highlighting some of them again. Some 98% of the stations that are to be closed are part-time stations. Some 94% of them are open for three hours a day or less. Some 88% of them are served by just one garda. When these reforms are implemented, there will be 564 stations in operation throughout the country. This is very high by comparison with other countries.

It is important to note that headline crime figures have fallen in 12 of the 14 crime groups. It is also important to allay people's fears. If I talk in statistics and comparisons, the weight of the argument in favour of reform could get lost. It must be said clearly that communities have nothing to fear. They will continue to be served by an effective police force that will protect and ensure their safety. As a result of these measures, more gardaí will be freed up for front-line duties. The Garda Commissioner has stated that these changes will enable the force to deliver optimal policing services to our communities. Two stations in County Wicklow, in Donard and Hollywood, are to be closed. Given that a 24-hour policing service will be provided to those communities from Blessington seven days a week, there is nothing to fear.

This motion amounts to opposition for opposition's sake. Fianna Fáil has introduced this motion in an attempt to engender fear among the public and build distrust of this Government. The idea of Fianna Fáil ever being in government again is even more horrifying than what it is attempting to do in the context of this debate.

See this speech in context