Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

----are contributing to an all-time low in morale. I ask the Taoiseach and his colleagues to listen to the Garda Síochána. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, refuses to listen to them and demonises them, saying that the GRA has "form". This is different and anyone who watched the rally last night could clearly see the frustration on the faces of all of the front-line staff, including nurses and gardaí, at the constant erosion of their salaries and payment levels and the lack of support for them in going about their duties and providing us with the safety we enjoy. It behoves all of us in this House to support the front-line workers in their duties, which are very serious. There is a very thin line between law and order and mayhem.

I ask the Taoiseach to respond to issues raised by members of the Garda Síochána. They are outside of the Croke Park extension negotiations and they feel the proposed cuts are a breach of the original agreement. I ask the Taoiseach to insist that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has respect for the members of the Garda Síochána and offers words of support and commendation to them, especially at this grave time, with them having lost one of their colleagues so tragically in County Louth recently. He must listen to the words of the passionate Father Cusack, who made eminent sense. He was not talking from any pulpit but was speaking the plain language of the ordinary people who have fear in their eyes. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that there are some cuts to free legal aid and that the approach is balanced and not all on the side of the criminals. I ask the Taoiseach to ask his Minister to support the Garda Síochána and the front-line services.

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