Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I congratulate the Minister, the Taoiseach and the Government on their commitment to implement the programme for Government in respect of the additional 2,000 gardaí. I pay tribute to the Garda Commissioner, members of the Garda and the Office of Public Works for playing a leading role in implementing the plans. The Government is certainly committed to the justice system and the operation of the Garda force throughout the country. We should all acknowledge the tremendous work and sacrifice of the gardaí throughout the country since the foundation of the State. We have witnessed supreme sacrifices being made. I refer to Detective Garda Jerry McCabe who was shot in my village of Adare. I saw the programme on Detective Garda McCabe last night. There are many newspaper articles about the issue, so it is no harm to reaffirm our commitment to gardaí and their families in respect of commitments made by past Governments and Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is important the Government continues to make the resources of the State available. Members of the Oireachtas, the Garda Síochána and the community at large should work together as a team in the fight against crime. I wish the Garda Commissioner well with the allocation of extra gardaí. It is good to see changes in recruitment and in how the force will be used. I also wish the Minister well.