Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have met dozens of gardaí during the past number of months who feel completely ignored by the Government and who feel there is a fundamental lack of respect for the work that they do on behalf of society and our citizens. It is clear to me that morale in An Garda Síochána is at an all-time low and at a tipping point. Gardaí feel ignored by the current Government. They are fed up with the continued attack on front line services. Crime levels, particularly theft and burglary, are up in many areas. Gardaí are facing a disproportionate cut to their pay as per the Croke Park II pay deal. In addition, to add insult to injury, a very dismissive Minister for Justice and Equality accuses the Garda representative bodies of doing a disservice to the gardaí. I would like to know on what planet is the Minister for Justice and Equality in regard to this. Has he any sense of the anger on the ground among rank and file gardaí?

It would be far better for him if he got rid of that dismissive attitude and engaged with the Garda representative bodies, who are articulating genuine concerns. Deputies from all sides of the House have had notice of and heard those concerns from gardaí. All the Minister does is attack them. He should listen more. He has closed more than 100 rural Garda stations because he believes that will lead to more efficient policing. He believes that a Garda car miles away from everything is better than a physical presence in a community.

Changes to the pay of those in front-line services and the Garda Síochána are disproportionate. Their job is fundamentally different because they put themselves in harm's way on behalf of society and our citizens. They risk their lives on behalf of our citizens. Does the Taoiseach agree with the Minister when he says of the AGSI and GRA that they are doing a disservice to gardaí? Does he accept that Garda morale is very low, and what does he intend to do to restore that morale?

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