Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

They will be fully qualified. The Senator seems to ignore the fact that trainee gardaí are on the streets and part of their training involves being on the streets. We have the longest training programme on these islands and in this corner of the world. In the London Metropolitan Police there is a six month training process while in Ireland we have a two year training process. Much of that is spent in practical policing work on the streets, learning professional standards in real life situations.

A recruit garda jumped into the River Liffey recently and saved a man from drowning. I do not think the person who was drowning would agree with the Senator that the action was any less brave or any less effective because there was a little blue band on the recruit garda's uniform.