Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We can talk about statistics, but the reality is that there have been 55 retirements and 31 resignations from An Garda Síochána in the past two months alone. We know that 1,640 gardaí will be eligible to retire over the next five years. The Minister spoke about some more recent work, but we know that prior to the commencement of exit interviews within An Garda Síochána, the GRA carried out its own research in 2023 with existing members. It found that members felt burnt out and stressed, were weighed down by administration, lacked the resources to be effective and were critical of the standard of training they received throughout their time in An Garda Síochána. The Minister has alluded to what some of the more recent research has found. Does he agree that the Dáil needs to be furnished with that research? We all need to have a handle on why some members of An Garda Síochána have left or feel they have no choice but to leave.

Will the Minister review the system whereby his Department refuses parliamentary questions relating to the work of An Garda Síochána and cites the Act that was passed just last year for doing so? This House needs to hold the Minister and his agencies to account. We cannot do that if the Department is refusing to engage. I ask the Minister to revise the current position.

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