John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to be able to speak on this motion. I will confine my comments to policing. It is important that legislators and policy-makers be very careful in the language they use in this regard. There are two issues at stake with regard to policing, the first of which is public safety, which is important, and the second of which is public confidence, which is equally important. Legislators and policy-makers have a responsibility in both of these areas.

I read the amendment and have heard Sinn Féin speak on it. I ask myself the reason for the amendment and the use of such language. Senator Ó Clochartaigh gave the impression that gardaí are not turning up for appointments all over the country. Senator Reilly stated elderly people are more vulnerable to crime. They might be more scared of crime but they are not more vulnerable because we know from the statistics that the rate of crime under all headings, apart from kidnapping and fraud, is consistently lower.