Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Cathaoirleach and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon. I appreciate that Ministers are extremely busy but I made the point in the House that where possible it is more satisfactory if the line Minister could be in attendance but I appreciate Deputy Cannon coming to take this Adjournment on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter.

I wish to bring to the attention of the House the situation regarding the non-recruitment of gardaí for the next three years. The last 120 gardaí from Templemore, Co Tipperary, graduated on Thursday and there will be no recruits for at least two years. No recruitment is planned. The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said the decision is a serious mistake.

I must declare an interest. I was nominated to contest the Seanad election by the AGSI, the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Superintendents. The AGSI said the decision will take youth and vitality from the force which is already losing experienced members through early retirement. John Redmond, the assistant secretary of the AGSI, said:

By the end of 2012 there will be a huge number of people who will have retired from the service. There is only one growth industry in a recession and that is crime.

The GRA said the Government is gambling with the safety of citizens and the security of the state to save money. The policy has been strongly criticised by business people in Templemore who said it would devastate the town which is already suffering in the recession. The Templemore Traders Association said the absence of students and the running down of the college will cost the local economy in County Tipperary millions of euro in trade and job losses.

I appreciate that proposals in regard to recruitment over the next number of years were set out in the national recovery plan. It outlined in detail the proposals to be put before the people. It stated that in 2011 the numbers of gardaí would be 13,500; in 2012, 13,350; in 2013, 13,150; and by 2014, 13,000. As far as I know, the proposal was rejected by the electorate who decided to elect a Fine Gael and Labour Party Administration.

Prior to the general election, Fine Gael stated the recommendations on Garda training will form part of the review that will be undertaken by it should be elected to Government. I presume now that it is in government it has an opportunity to reassess the situation. It raised the expectations of many students who were successful in applying for training in An Garda Síochána and they will be extremely disappointed that this Administration has decided to follow the national recovery plan which was rejected by the Irish people. Fine Gael is now in power and we lost out but it seems it is carrying out the policies proposed in the national recovery plan.