Joe O'Toole (Independent)

With the MacEntee report and the chief inspector of the Garda inspectorate, Ms O'Toole's recent speech to the AGSI, there is a strong case for a debate on the Garda force. We need to see a rebuilding of the trust and confidence in the force. A structure needs to be in place where individual issues do not take from the reputation of the entire Garda force, which is inclined to happen willy-nilly. Serious mistakes were made in the past for which the Garda Commissioner has apologised. New legislation has been introduced to plug holes in the structures. The Garda force needs to know it is a crucial part of our democracy and one in which we need to have trust and confidence. While there will be incidents such as cross-Border collusion, the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, Abbeylara or Donegal, it must be known we are cleaning these out of the system. Gardaí must know they can look to us as voices in support of them and examine deficiencies in the force in a balanced way.

Recently on the Order of Business, I asked why the Government will not ban incandescent light bulbs, leading the way for the rest of the world. Afterwards, I discussed the matter with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. He was positively disposed towards my suggestion but he pointed out that the Irish Government, of its own volition, may not ban a product that is on sale in the EU, by virtue of the Treaty of Rome. This needs to be addressed. The Minister must be given an opportunity to explain this position to the House and the Government's recently published climate change policy document. While I have disagreements with it, I also see positive aspects to the document.

Yesterday, Senator Mansergh praised the work done for island communities by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Erosion on islands is a matter that should be examined by the Minister, the sea wall in Valentia being one example. Local people are forced to pay to build walls to keep out the sea. They might as well be in the Netherlands. This should not be left to local communities. Coastal erosion is a result of global warming. If the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, wants to find ways to help the Kerry community, he could do so in a more positive way than what he has chosen to do so far.