Jimmy Harte (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have no issue with Senator Ó Clochartaigh but I want to state a few facts. Everyone has a role in policing in the community, from taxi drivers to the postman, the garda, the teacher and the ordinary guy in the street. Everyone has eyes and ears and people are beginning to realise this. They have mobile phones and if they see a suspicious car they can photograph the licence plate and send it to the local garda or keep it. That facility was not available five years ago. That is the important part of community policing. It is not a question of policing but of the community, aided by the gardaí. The future of community policing is important as was proved this week in Donegal where the gardaí stepped up to the mark with the help of the public in each area who were cognisant of things going on that were not normal in their areas.