Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would be reluctant to describe an increase in one year as a trend. We had a downward trend certainly for seven years, last year there was an increase and this year it is flat. I do not think one move up or down constitutes a trend but, nonetheless, it is important to be vigilant. As the Deputy pointed out, I am glad he was willing to concede that had Fianna Fáil stayed in power Garda numbers would have been reduced by even more than they have been reduced. That was its plan and the election of this Government put a stop to that plan.

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