Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for allowing me to make a contribution to the debate. This is my second contribution to the House since my election. I took the opportunity this morning to sit here and listen to the contributions from other Deputies. Obviously, as would any Deputy, I had prepared some remarks to make, but I am going to change some of my contribution on foot of things I have heard here today.

My background is as a councillor representing Tallaght, Templeogue and various parts of the community which make up my constituency of Dublin South-West. It is a constituency with many communities that have been blighted by the issues being talked about in the Chamber this morning. It is a constituency of people whom I am very proud to represent, particularly the families in those communities who work on a daily basis with all the agencies, both State and community-based, to ensure that their families and children will grow up to have a decent life and a decent set of values.

It sickens me when I listen to the almost apologist argument by certain people who talk about those who come from a community of deprivation as though they automatically end up in crime. That is actually an insult to the thousands and thousands of people who raise their families and children without that outcome. It is an awful shame that those Deputies all decided to make their contributions and walk out.

Another point that absolutely stunned me was Deputy Ruth Coppinger's contribution about political policing by An Garda Síochána. That is absolutely a slur on every member of the Garda, whether they are recruits in Templemore today or the Commissioner, and every rank and file member in between. The gardaí of this State do an incredible job under really difficult circumstances to protect our communities and the people living in them. Gardaí are the people who run towards what all of us run away from. They deserve our support. To imply in any way or to directly state that they are engaged in political policing is a slur on those members and what they do on a day-to-day basis. I hope Deputy Coppinger might consider coming back to the House to withdraw that.

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