Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this legislation. Before turning to the Bill, I would like to deal with an issue of public transport which I know is also close to the heart of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. As the Minister will be aware, rural Ireland is experiencing huge problems with transport. Earlier today I read an article in the Irish Independent in which the Taoiseach spoke about the need for the Garda Síochána to invest in specialist vehicles. I represent a community in which a garda has no car and is required to police his catchment on foot. This is not an issue that has been highlighted in the public domain because it is important not to advertise to thugs that particular communities are being left in such situations. There are many gardaí marooned in Garda stations because they do not have access to transport. It was disappointing that of the 94 new gardaí that passed out from Templemore, not one was deployed to our part of the country. I ask that the Minister bring that matter to the attention of Cabinet. I agree that we need specialist vehicles but we also need basic vehicles. We cannot have a situation whereby gardaí in rural communities are left without access to transport.

First, I congratulate the Minister.

I listened to his recent announcement on the Phoenix Park tunnel. It is something we have discussed at length in the past.

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