Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The policing of County Kerry is an enormous task, from Valentia Island to Tarbert and from Gneeveguilla and Scartaglin to Ventry. It is a large area and significant operation, and I thank rank and file gardaí as well as those in the senior ranks for the job they are doing with the resources they have been given.

Past Ministers for Justice visited County Kerry and met local representatives, including me, to hear what was happening on the ground. That was beneficial. I would have expected that a person of the Minister of State's calibre would have informed other Deputies of an official visit, but perhaps that might happen the next time, as we are all working for the people and trying to do our best.

I compliment and thank in an ordinary and humble way gardaí of the past, present and future for putting themselves in harm's way to protect the people for whom they work. Sometimes, a garda's job is particularly horrible when he or she has to attend accidents or call to houses to inform people of bad news. Those are horrific events in any person's life, but gardaí have to experience them numerous times during their careers. For that, I thank them.

I have reservations about what is proposed in this Bill. When I think of places like the Iveragh Peninsula and how far, for instance, Cahersiveen is from Killarney, it is important that we manage the Garda's resources properly.

Something is of great concern to me and should be dealt with quickly. I ask that the Acting Chairman allow me this indulgence, after which I will finish. I am referring to people using mobile phones. When a person is being dealt with by a member of the Garda Síochána and the garda has the threat held over him or her of the phone filming the garda doing that work, it is an outrage that the recording can be put up on YouTube two seconds later. If the Minister of State and the Minister could deal with this, they would be doing a great service for rank and file members of An Garda Síochána.

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