Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the time available, I would like to pay my respects to Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was laid to rest today. I would also like to express my deep condolences to his family, his colleagues and his friends. Many other gardaí have been killed in similar circumstances. For a number of reasons I particularly recall the killing of Garda Michael Reynolds in 1976. First, he was shot dead in St. Anne's Park in Raheny, close to where I live, and, second, both us went to the same secondary school in Ballinasloe at the same time, and I was acquainted with him. When someone you know is killed brutally in the line of duty, it brings home to you how that killing must impact on the family, close friends and colleagues of that policeman, and the many other policemen on both sides of the Border who have been killed since the Troubles began. I have no doubt that those responsible for the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe will be brought to justice.

I feel now is not the most appropriate time to discuss the politics of policing, given it is a very sensitive time both for gardaí and the family of Detective Garda Donohoe. I believe that reductions in Garda expenditure are not the cause of the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe. Given the events of the past several days, I believe this debate should have been delayed until a more appropriate time. However, as it is going ahead, I would like to comment briefly.

It should be noted that the justice sector secured €2.243 billion in 2012 and €2.2 billion for 2013, which was over the amounts which Fianna Fáil would have allocated. It is also worth noting that, despite the cuts in last year's budget, €4 million was made available to purchase 213 new Garda vehicles and dedicated funding of €5 million has also been made for this purpose in 2013. These figures speak for themselves. I am also very pleased that the new Garda divisional headquarters for Kevin Street in Dublin was included with two other Garda divisional headquarters in the special Government stimulus package announced last July. The provision of these facilities will significantly enhance Garda capacity to carry out their functions more effectively.

In terms of the closure of some Garda stations, let us reflect on the reality of the Garda station network up until these closures. The network was essentially the same Royal Irish Constabulary barracks network which was left in 1922. Such a large-scale static deployment of resources is no longer appropriate in the present day, where the transport and communications infrastructure has been transformed beyond recognition. The Garda Síochána has a class-leading police computer system, a state-of-the-art digital radio system and a transport fleet which is currently receiving significant investment. The new Garda roster currently being piloted provides a better match between Garda availability and policing demand.

We also need to be honest about the level of policing service that was capable of being provided from the stations that were and are to be closed. Of the 100 stations to be closed in 2013, 98% are open part-time, 94% are open for three hours a day or less and 88% are served by one garda only. I believe everything possible has been done to maintain the resources available to the Garda Síochána at the highest possible level.

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