Seanad debates

Tuesday, 20 May 2003

Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Bill 2003: Committee Stage.

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I do not disagree with some of the Senator's sentiments. The question of increasing the number of gardaí is a separate one. I agree that we would benefit from having more gardaí. The Government has certain commitments in that regard, which have been the subject of recent controversy. The commitment in the election manifesto and the programme for Government, as I recall it, was to provide 2,000 extra gardaí over the lifetime of the Government. Just 20% of the Government's lifetime has elapsed. Therefore, we still have four years to go. The commitment was subject to resource constraints and let us hope the resources can be made available to increase the number of gardaí.

However, we cannot use the fact that we need more gardaí as an excuse or reason for undermining the operation of joint investigation teams. These will be a rarity and will be set up only in the most extreme circumstances to deal with particularly serious forms of crime which are seriously affecting the State and its people. The Government is accountable to the public and must deal with what it promised in this regard in the programme for Government and its manifestos. We will have to answer to the people in due course.

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