Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

In regard to members of the Garda Síochána, we are in danger in this House of operating on the basis of outdated stereotypes. One of the great pleasures of my job is to visit Templemore to see the passing out parades. The notion that these are young farmers' lads, with the leaving certificate sticking out of their breast pocket, who have no experience of the broad wide world, which may have been correct at one stage, is no longer the case in Templemore. Nowadays the majority of them, or at least a large number, are third level graduates. There is a notion, dating back to when the Garda Síochána was male dominated, that strapping farmers' sons enter the force without any experience of the world other than the preparatory course to get into Templemore. I assure the House that the diametric opposite is the truth now. Senators should see the citations and experience of those who are there now. The breadth of their experience amazes me. Some are former accountants and secondary teachers. People are coming into the force now who have third level qualifications right across the board. Some have engineering degrees. It is regarded as a good job that is much sought after.