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

I welcome the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021. It is only right and proper that we streamline and make more straightforward the issue of gardaí who are genuinely injured in the course of duty receiving adequate compensation. They might be out of work, have loss of earnings or future earnings or have pain and suffering from an injury and it is only right that we streamline the process of dealing with their claims.

It would be neglectful if, in the course of this debate, we did not recognise our fallen gardaí, both men and women, who went about their day's work in an ordinary and honest fashion and who, during the course of that day or night, lost their lives. These people gave their lives to the protection of the people or property of the State and gave their lives to the job. It is most important that we recognise that fact tonight and that we do so in a respectful manner. We should remember the families of those bereaved people so well. I mention people who were injured, who had life altering injuries, who might not have been able to go back to work again and who finished up badly injured because of the job. That can happen a person working on a building site, in forestry or anywhere but we have to take into consideration these men and women who take upon themselves a serious and onerous job and from one second to the next they do not know what they will have to face. It can be any type of awful and harrowing situation like traffic accidents or serious and organised crime. They come across all different types of things in their day-to-day duties but we have to recognise that while other people would steer away from harm, members of the Garda have to go into harm's way.

I want to speak about the Garda in County Kerry and the service it gives. I know the Minister appreciates the work people do everywhere and in recognising the good work the Garda in Kerry is doing I respectfully ask the Minster to ensure she resources it properly. The one way we can ensure gardaí are safe is to provide them with the machinery they need to do their jobs, whether that is their accommodation where their Garda stations are or the facilities, technology, vehicles and people power they have to deal with situations. We must make sure there are enough people on duty with adequate numbers. I readily acknowledge that a lot has been done in that regard in recent years and that the recruitment is ongoing. I appreciate that because we always have to account for retirements and ill gardaí who need to be replaced to keep the workforce up at a proper level. I want to talk about places like south Kerry, including the Iveragh Peninsula, which is a long commuting distance from the town of Killarney. Whether it is superintendents, chief superintendents or sergeants, we have to ensure we have enough of a hierarchy in those locations and that we adequately resource them to ensure that law and order can be maintained and that people can feel safe.

We have a drug problem in Ireland that is running rampant and that causes awful problems for the Garda, and not just in our towns but in smaller areas also. In trying to steer young people away from getting involved in drugs or crime, we need to have a good and strong Garda presence.

I want to remember fondly gardaí who have retired, who were great characters and who did great work in our communities. They were community-based gardaí and they were friends with everybody and at the same time there was a respect for them and the role they carried out.

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