Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I find the Minister's response amazing. He has said there is no evidence that there was an issue with Garda resources. Why then were previous requests made by the Irish Prison Service for armed escorts for the individual in question declined? Surely, if the agency of State charged with keeping criminals locked up and dealing with issues of this nature requests an armed escort, its request should be taken on board. Clearly, there is an issue with resources.

Despite all of the Minister's political rhetoric, it was the Government that continued the moratorium on recruitment throughout 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. At the same time, it continued to recruit to the Defence Forces. The public is aghast that garda numbers were allowed to dwindle. No recruits were brought in in those years, yet the Government states it was doing something to deal with the issue. The Minister has not answered the question on how many other requests were made to An Garda Síochána to provide armed escorts.

See this speech in context