John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I join with previous speakers who have asked for a debate with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on recent violent incidents. I concur with Senator Ó Murchú's remark that we should support the Garda. We owe them a lot. The first support for the Garda should come from the Government, which was elected on a false promise that 2,000 extra gardaí would be put on the streets. If the Government does not support the Garda, how can it expect the people to support it? We should all support the Garda. The Government has a responsibility in this regard and it should not shirk its duty.