Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the short time available, I will say we support this legislation. It is very important. Gardaí play a crucial role in our society. That has been underlined even more by the support it offered to our communities during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the role it plays in tackling crime has always been apparent and is always something that is crucial. It carries with it enormous dangers and enormous risks. Countless gardaí are injured, often quite seriously, in the course of their duties. This happens while they are attempting to protect the rest of society from criminals and various dangers. It is vitally important we ensure they have confidence they will be supported in the same way they support our communities. It is vitally important they can be satisfied that if something happens to them in the course of discharging their duty of protecting the public, they will be appropriately compensated. That is right and proper and is something I agree with.

I support the points made by Deputy Berry on prison officers and the Defence Forces. It is vitally important people in those ranks are also properly compensated and supported in the event of any incident. There are issues that need to be addressed, in particular whether "malicious incident" is defined broadly enough to catch everyone who could be in that situation, including trainee gardaí. It is vitally important that is addressed. We expect gardaí to go out there and risk themselves physically to protect us from crime, to tackle some very violent and dangerous criminals and to put themselves in situations, whether those are domestic incidents or whatever, where there is significant risk to them. It is vitally important we ensure they are properly compensated. Therefore, we will support this legislation.

I am meeting with the chief superintendent in Cork in the coming days. One of the things we will discuss is Garda resources in Cork. It has been an ongoing frustration that Cork, despite the fact it is the second largest city in the State, has not got the kind of Garda resources some of the big urban centres have got. Some of our fast-growing areas are way behind in Garda numbers, including places such as Ballincollig, Douglas and Carrigaline. These are places that are growing rapidly but still have a Garda presence that reflects a time when they were little more than villages or small towns. I will address that with the Garda but I also request the Minister raises this matter with the Garda Commissioner at the next opportunity.

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