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

When it comes to issues like this, I do not like to be negative but I have to remind the Minister that when An Garda Síochána was looking to the Government for support and when the Commissioner wanted support, the Minister sided with one man rather than siding with our gardaí. That did not sit well with me or the hard-working members of the force. One thing I will say about our gardaí is when they get up in the morning, they put on a uniform and they put themselves in harm's way to work for us and for the arms of the State. When they said they wanted help and support, unfortunately, they did not get it from Government Buildings. They did not get it from the Minister and they were left on their own. I am grateful to people like the GRA, the great association, whose conference the Minister would not go to this year because she said it might upset one individual. At the same time, she did not care about the 13,000 members of the An Garda Síochána, their wives, families or any one of them. She sided with one man rather than going to a conference to listen to what An Garda Síochána had to say. I will tell her straight that it was hurtful. It will be remembered for a long time because when you are a Minister, you are supposed to serve the people working with you and for you. I believe our gardaí work very well for all of us. When they wanted political support, quite simply, they did not get it from the Minister or anyone on the Government side of the House.

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