Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will be bringing forward the Bill and I hope the Deputy will support us when we are bringing it through the Houses of the Oireachtas. I am sure the Deputy will.

The Deputy mentioned the Tánaiste. The Tánaiste was answering a direct question, and he answered it. He stated this was a matter for the Garda Commissioner, which it is. What the Tánaiste said was that if the Garda Commissioner requested additional supports or whatever, he would be happy to look at it if the Garda Commissioner looked for more armed gardaí. We have an effective armed response unit. They do excellent work.

The strength of An Garda Síochána has also been through policing by consent as an unarmed police force. As we have heard on many occasions in this centenary year, the Garda ethos is based not on force of arms but on its relationship with the community. I believe that ethos has served us well but I also believe we need to keep our streets safe. The Deputy mentioned bodycams. It is important, as I stated earlier, that gardaí are equipped with the right and most up-to-date equipment in terms of new technology to make sure they do their job.

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