John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Up to a few weeks ago Fine Gael was moaning that the increase was not happening but now the moan is about who will make it happen. Obviously, the goalpost is shifting as progress is made.

One would wonder whether the Opposition wants the numbers to increase. It seems it would be happier moaning that it never happened. We might be like Senator Bannon — the last person leaving Longford should please turn off the lights. As far as I can gather from anything he says, nothing of substance ever happens there and all the shopkeepers, publicans, farmers and probably all the gardaí have left the county. Happily, that is not the case. This is not a stunt. The commitment has been made and will happen. Management measures have been put in place and were outlined by the Minister in his announcement.

Given the returned growth and strength in the economy, I wonder whether there will be difficulties in securing the 14,000 because of the significant opportunities in the wider economy for young people. I hope there are still sufficient young, willing, patriotic people committed to the State who will respond to advertisements to join the Garda. There are logistical difficulties with regard to Templemore and its capacity to absorb the numbers. In-service training and new facilities will be provided there and space could also be found by deploying new recruits in Garda stations for training and by conducting in-service pre-retirement courses elsewhere. This will help and good management and new facilities will solve the problems.

I was encouraged that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Parlon, was present for the announcement along with the head of the Civil Service Commission and the Garda Commissioner. A major capital cost is involved but there is unanimity of effort in respect of this matter.

Many important debates have been held in the House over the years about violence, drug and alcohol abuse, road deaths and criminal and subversive activity and Members have been passionate in their denunciation of such anti-social behaviour. All these issues underline the urgent need for extra gardaí. Even the expanding population demands it and, therefore, there is an understandable demand for more gardaí on the beat, a traffic corps and more support for the victims of crime.

However, a number of these demands are contradictory and difficult to reconcile. On the one hand, we want more gardaí on the beat while, on the other, we want them to produce a more significant paper trail. I wonder at times whether PULSE is only a statistical exercise or whether Garda time is tied up unduly logging incidents where there may not been be a need for paperwork because there will never be a prosecution. It is curious that more technology has led to more paperwork even though we all thought it would be the opposite.

One wonders whether some of the activities in which the Garda is engaged are appropriate. Guns are a major issue and they must be controlled but is it correct that a garda should sit in a station issuing gun licences on a full-time basis? As a farmer, I have a shotgun and I renewed my licence last year. I noted when I was doing my accounts recently that it took eight weeks for the cheque to be presented. It was a small cheque but, if all such cheques are presented together, there is a loss to the force. Such administrative issues need to be addressed. One wonders whether a garda should be engaged in such activity.

I refer to the Noxious Weeds Act 1936. It is important that noxious weeds are kept under control in the countryside but should the Garda be enforcing the legislative provisions? Local authorities or another agency should do so. The Garda should not be a tax collector. Members of the force are involved in recording rainfall. They have more important issues to address and duties such as those I have outlined could be outsourced to other State agencies if they could not be undertaken by private companies. More administrative duties could be undertaken by staff other than gardaí themselves, which would release them to undertake other more important tasks.

The use of clampers in Dublin, for good or ill, at least does not tie up Garda manpower in an inappropriate way. I refer to water bailiffs. I have a warrant as a water bailiff on the River Liffey. That is quite right and many other members of my angling club carry a warrant. Why should the Garda be engaged in this activity? Litter wardens are another example of engaging people outside the force.

Technology must be exploited and used to the maximum advantage. However, there is no substitute for experience. The retirement age for gardaí is 57 and it is 60 for superintendents. A significant reservoir of people with knowledge and experience are lost at a point when they are still active. Some members leave the force when they turn 50 and they are entitled to a gratuity of between €60,000 and €80,000. It is unfortunate to lose the skills and expertise built up by these members and there is a general trend towards increasing retirement age limits. Perhaps that issue will be examined. Even if the current limits apply, we must start thinking outside the box. There must be ways of involving retired members of the force in driving cars and looking after public offices.

We had a good Garda juvenile officer in my local town, Newbridge, who was skilled and experienced in the areas of drugs. When he retired, all his experience went with him and he has not been replaced. He is willing and able to continue to tour schools to give advice to and help young people. There must be a role for people like him within the force, as an adjunct to the force or through the local authority.

The Garda Bill is a matter for another day. However, I echo a comment made by a person who proposed a vote of thanks to the Minister at a meeting recently on the disability issue. State agencies have a duty to lead in this regard. That point was made forcefully by this person and he spoke more eloquently about the issue than I could. However, people with disabilities could have a role in this area and this issue needs to be examined.

Opportunities exist for young people in the force and, hopefully, there are enough young people with the commitment to service to their country and with enough patriotism that when the advertisements are placed in the newspapers, they will respond generously and enthusiastically so that the force we need can be built up. They will be able to keep the peace within the State, make us all feel safe and support victims. Many members of the force use their own mobile telephones to keep in contact with victims of crime. Perhaps a small allowance could be provided to them so that they would not have to go into the Garda station to avail of land lines to do this work.

Our gardaí do dangerous and sometimes thankless work but most of them would say it is also deeply fulfilling. We are indebted to them for their service since the foundation of the State. Notwithstanding the few bad apples in the barrel, the majority of them work effectively and well in all our interests. I commend the motion to the House.