Derek McDowell (Labour)

When I checked the facts, I found that 54% of trainee gardaí have third level qualifications when they go to Templemore. The education that is offered at the training college is quite broad — it involves training in the community, etc. I mention that because we sometimes form our opinions on the basis of urban stereotypes. It was clearly a commonly held view that farmers' young sons were going directly to Templemore from school without any experience of the world, but that is not what happens in the Garda Síochána anymore. We are 1 million miles away from that. Those of us who represent Bohernabreena and Ranelagh may look at the world from the point of view of Bohernabreena or Ranelagh.