Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will close this debate with a few brief remarks, having made all the salient points I intended making in my opening contribution. I thank all Members who have contributed to the debate, not least the Minister for his attendance and participation. Go raibh míle maith agaibh uilig.

Despite the fact that we are all elected to what is, very often, a highly charged political chamber and atmosphere, the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality have jointly produced, and unanimously adopted, a report and recommendations that also have the endorsement of those who came before us in our series of hearings, including the many rural Ireland representative organisations that presented and made submissions. Now, this evening, they have the welcome of colleagues, both from Government benches and Opposition voices across the board.

Community policing requires high Garda visibility which, in turn, encourages public confidence and helps secure real engagement and support in what needs to be a shared response to the threat that crime and criminals present. The almost heretofore absolute dependency on members of An Garda Síochána responding to a range of situations that are not of their primary range of functions, at so-called "out-of-hours" periods of the day and at weekends, is no longer acceptable. Having a multi-agency, 24-7 response on standby, to meet the many situations that can and do arise, is imperative. The key health and child and welfare services together with others must be an integral part of this multi-agency, 365-day response.

The Minister is correct that the committee was of one shared mind on the importance of increased numbers of sworn members of An Garda Síochána in active service. I emphasise the importance of adequate resourcing of our policing service if we, the elected voices of the people of this State, are to succeed collectively as we have given a commitment to do.

I encourage the Minister to address speedily and implement the recommendations in our report, in conjunction with the recommendations in the report of the Commission of the Future of Policing, which we unanimously supported and which I wish to record, on behalf of the committee, we endorse and commend to the Minister. There is work to be done. There are two complementary reports that together I hope will help chart a course to a new era of policing to which we can look forward with the confidence that we and the Irish people deserve.

While I would have to go back over the record of this debate, the Minister did not, I certainly did not and most Members I listened to did not reference a phraseology that once applied to An Garda Síochána, which was to talk of a police force, and that is wonderful. I commend the Minister and all those who contributed, quite rightly referencing An Garda Síochána as our police service. There is a massive difference and it is critically important. Language is important and it is part of building that confidence and trust within our communities. I thank the Acting Chairman and the Members of the House for their attendance at this late hour on a Thursday evening. Go raibh míle maith agaibh arís.

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