Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure where the Deputy is hearing it from but I am putting it on the record that this is my understanding as a Government spokesperson. I also do not think we should be deciding in this House on operational matters for An Garda Síochána. We do not have the expertise. We are politicians. That is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and the team around him in terms of the leadership of An Garda Síochána. There is work to do to build consensus within An Garda Síochána as a whole in terms of a rostering plan for the future. The Commissioner is meeting representative bodies tomorrow on that. The Minister met representative bodies today and discussed that issue. Let us give that process time to draw its own conclusions.

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