Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

They are the line of defence between ordinary citizens and criminal elements. I know of no garda who will not get involved in law abiding and crime prevention activities, whether on duty or not. We have seen evidence of that over the years, where gardaí, in their off-duty hours, have performed heroic deeds in preventing crime and in seeing that the law of the land is upheld. We have the utmost respect for the Garda Commissioner and for every member of the force for the work that they do.

Regarding the pay talks, it should be said that the place to deal with the anxieties, concerns and issues that arise in respect of pay is at the table. I would say again from this forum to the representative associations who have removed themselves from those talks that the best place for them to make their case, to articulate and negotiate their case, is at those talks.

This year, the statistics speak for themselves in respect of the increased number of arrests made by gardaí, the increase in activity levels, in vigilance and in access to gardaí for the public because of the changes to garda rosters. There is evidence already that in a number of cases where Garda stations have been closed, because of those changed rosters and of the extra capacity, the public see more----

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