Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

If issues are raised, they will be discussed. However, I would not like the Seanad to think I am attaching a price tag to my comments because the Garda engages in a great deal of liaison with the community and bodies of different character have been established in various parts of the country such as policing forums and local consultative bodies to work with the Garda. The legislation will give a fundamental local democratic impetus and mandate to that process and will formalise the local democratic liaison with the force and that is important. However, it is not radically new or different from what good policing has always required, namely, liaison with the community and its representatives.