Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Deputy's position, and that of Sinn Féin, that the standard fund threshold part of the tax system needs to be changed. It is my strong expectation that that will happen.

In respect of the numbers within An Garda Síochána, as the Deputy will know from the programme for Government, we have given a commitment that we will seek to get the numbers in An Garda Síochána up by 5,000 over the course of the Government term. I have said it before; it is a challenging issue to try to get Garda numbers up but all I can do - and I would ask the Deputy and other Members of the House to do it as well - is to emphasise that, notwithstanding the danger associated with being a member of An Garda Síochána, which we tragically saw last weekend, it is a job that is worth doing. There are very many fine members of An Garda Síochána who you speak to, and they will tell you they derive great satisfaction from their jobs.

We need to get the numbers up. More importantly, we need to get the numbers we have out on the streets. We are beginning to see that. We are in a great position in Ireland where people want to see members of An Garda Síochána on the streets in their communities, and that is what I am committed to doing.

See this speech in context