Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister. I thank him for publishing the heads of the Bill and giving everyone time to consider its provisions. That is good practice.

I have a high regard for the Garda Síochána. On the foundation of the State, all administrative, business and security structures had to be built from scratch and my family and I take great pleasure in the fact that my late grandfather was one of the first sergeants in the new force. I come from a law abiding family which genuinely believes in the role of the Garda.

The standard of the new recruits going to Templemore in the past ten years is exceptionally high. Many police forces are missing "cop on" but thankfully those now being recruited by the Garda have it, and know how to deal with different situations. As a businessman I have worked closely with gardaí in Business Watch and Neighbourhood Watch, while I have also worked with them in football and boxing clubs. Their involvement in the community should never be undermined and they should not feel they cannot get involved in such organisations. They have excelled in that local role, which is unique to this country. Long may that continue.

The security of the State is paramount. I remember coming to a Garda checkpoint in the early 1980s at which gardaí had Uzi sub-machine guns. Some people were offended by that but I felt very safe and secure in the knowledge that those people were there to protect the State. We do not like to see guns but I always feel secure when I see gardaí policing our streets.

My grandfather was one of the traditional gardaí, serving in Cahir, Rush and Ballina. Nowadays gardaí do not have to uproot themselves or to travel as much, which is better for them as they can have a family life.

While the Bill is good I must raise the issue of the 2,000 extra gardaí who were promised. I hope this volunteer force is not intended to replace those gardaí. I am concerned by this because of the drug culture in our towns and cities. Crime lords are targeting rural areas like my area, Roscommon, and there is no point in recruiting gardaí if this drug culture takes hold. If that happens five times as many gardaí will be needed. I do not want to make a political point but we need the resources to tackle the ever-increasing level of crime. The Minister will have my support in whatever he does.

How will the volunteers be trained? I am concerned because this does not seem to have been well thought out. Will volunteer members have the same powers as the gardaí? The interaction of local authorities with the Garda is long overdue and very welcome. Communities can work together very effectively, as we have seen in Neighbourhood Watch and Business Watch; different views can be expressed and different strands of the community can be brought together.

The Bill has the potential to greatly strengthen the Garda but appears to give the Minister more executive control. The Human Rights Commission gave the Bill a qualified welcome so the Minister is pressing the right buttons in that context.

Broad discretion is given to the Minister on the operation of the force, which seems to extend to the system of political appointments of senior officers to the rank of superintendent. I have no cause for complaint here as the best people are in charge, but I would hate to see political favours being given, although I am sure that will not happen.