Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. At the next opportunity, will answer my questions? We are worried about the possibility of overturning a number of convictions after the major work done by gardaí and many others. We all support providing the Garda with the capacity it needs. We need to see more of that happening and it needs to happen faster.

We have said we need to ensure that even more non-core duties should be removed from the tasks gardaí are obliged to perform. We need to implement our housing plan and create a retention and recruitment task force to report back urgently. We also need to explore the possibility of a second Garda training centre to achieve the increase in numbers required as a result of population increases. I acknowledge the work done in respect of the courts and the prisons, but we need to explore extra sitting days for courts and invest in restorative justice measures and other practices.

The Tánaiste is fooling no one in the run-up to the election. The message is clear: it is time for change. He is saying he is not enamoured of how the justice system is operating at this point.

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