Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Due to the significant increase in the crime figures, I ask the Leader to question the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform about additional resources for the Garda, as 2,000 extra gardaí per year were promised before the general election. There is no provision for the recruitment of extra gardaí in the Estimates. We can all be critical of the Garda, but there was a report yesterday stating there was no wrongdoing in the compilation of crime figures in Waterford Garda station, a matter about which there was a lot of controversy earlier in the year.

Senator Mansergh would be better off taking the matter of Portmarnock up with the Taoiseach as he is an honorary member.