Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I support Senator Brian Hayes's remarks in respect of yesterday's paltry damages award to Mr. Frank Shortt and his family. Members should not forget the misery to which these people were subjected by members of the Garda Síochána, who had nothing but career advancement in mind when they intentionally harangued, hounded, abused and ultimately framed family members for offences of which they were never guilty. We must consider the damages awarded in the context of their suffering. It is important that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform will come before the House to debate this issue because by any stretch of the imagination, the sum of €1.9 million does not in any way compensate the family for the misery and torture to which they were subjected by corrupt and evil members of the Garda Síochána during the 1980s and 1990s.

On a related issue, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform came to west Cork recently to open a state-of-the-art Garda station in Bantry, a welcome infrastructural improvement for any town. However, to reach Bantry he was obliged to pass through Dunmanway, where the current Garda station is situated in private rented accommodation. It is not wheelchair-accessible, there is no cell in the privately-rented house and is not a conducive working environment for Garda members. This has been the situation in Dunmanway for the last four years.

It is difficult to expect Garda members to work to their full capacity if the station in which they are supposed to work is a private rented house. It flies in the face of proper policing and it is dangerous for a town of that size to lack a decent station in which gardaí can do their job. I ask the Acting Leader to arrange, as soon as possible, a debate in respect of the entire policing issue and the proper provision of physical infrastructure for the members of the Garda Síochána.