Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister has said, it will take time to catch up as a result of Covid, but catching up we are. This year will see between 700 and 800 new recruits go into the Garda College. The Deputy asked what we will do to protect the welfare, well-being and terms and conditions of gardaí. This week, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform will invite public sector unions and others to public sector pay talks. If we can achieve an outcome on that, it will benefit members of An Garda Síochána.

We have already passed legislation on bodycams. We have passed legislation to increase the maximum sentence for assaulting a garda. These were sought by the Garda representative bodies. The Minister for Justice has an incredible record including introducing stalking legislation, setting up a new domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency, a zero-tolerance plan, bodycams-----

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