Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I would not question the nice people who write for such a newspaper.

On a second matter, the Garda Síochána Act passed the Seanad and Dáil in June of last year and has been in place for 12 months. Section 36 of the Act is supposed to allow the establishment of joint policing committees. Not one joint policing committee has been established in that 12-month period despite the fact there was cross-party support for such an initiative and everyone believes it to be a good idea and similar to what is taking place in Northern Ireland in terms of the district partnerships.

The Minister, Deputy McDowell, lectures the Garda representative organisations on the importance of Acts passed by the Oireachtas and the need for those Acts to be enforced with regard to the Garda reserve. However, he is not implementing a vitally important section of the Act establishing joint policing committees. When will we see this happen? Will the Acting Leader organise statements on the matter?