Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I do not want the Minister to take my remarks personally. I am a very straight and direct person. I really think we are missing an opportunity by failing to establish an independent police authority. I can give many examples of cases in which such an authority would have been of use. As someone who is completely supportive of departmental officials, I do not think the advisers and policy-makers in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform act in an executive manner by taking action and making changes. We are missing an opportunity to set up a police authority.

Like Senator Tuffy, I said recently that the Garda training depot in Templemore is too remote. I attended a conference recently in a hotel in north Tipperary and the Garda had to hire rooms to teach gardaí because there is not sufficient accommodation for them. It would be much healthier if gardaí studied with other groups in colleges and universities. With all due respect, they forget that the public are the customers. There is a little bit of arrogance involved. In other countries in Europe, they look like they are on the job, so to speak. I do not want to say much more than that because I might get into trouble. Garda recruits should be in mainstream education because their present education system is old-fashioned.

We are all optimistic about the increase in numbers to which the Minister referred last night. I said to him at a conference in Dundalk that I want to be free from fear of being attacked. As I have got to know the Minister's constituents in Dublin South-East, one of the great fears of old people in the area is being alone at night. I was shocked to learn that community gardaí, who do great work in the community, must retire at the age of 57. The Minister is talking about recruiting new people and promotions.