Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The urgency seems to be in the need for gardaí to be able to carry out their duties safely. I offer my best wishes to any of the gardaí who have been injured recently. There is a broader picture here in that many gardaí say they spend half their time covering their backs, and looking over their shoulders due to the increased monitoring of them. Unfortunately, while the Government planned to increase the numbers in the Garda by 1,000, up to the end of March there were only 136 gardaí going through Templemore. If you do the maths, it is clear that the Government is very unlikely to meet its target of increasing the number of gardaí by 1,000. In fact, there is a danger the number could drop. We look forward to seeing what the Minister has outlined with regard to the maximum penalty prescribed in committee because there are difficulties, as he knows, with the constitutionality of any minimum sentencing powers.

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