Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Like my colleagues, I express my sympathies to the Henry family in Sligo and to the family of Éamon de Buitléar, whom I had the pleasure of meeting on a school tour back in 1985.

Today, however, I want to bring up the unforgivable act that resulted in the loss of life Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and the trauma inflicted on Detective Garda Joe Ryan in County Louth last week. What happened was unspeakable and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. This cowardly act, however, has focused my attention on those working in front-line services. While we have 13,500 brave gardaí out there on a daily basis protecting us and serving their country in highly dangerous situations, we must remember those paramedics, prison officers, fire fighters and those working in accident and emergency departments and the Civil Defence who might not have been subjected to such a barbaric act as Detective Garda Donohoe but who too often have been victims of abuse. These people are understated national heroes who go about their jobs every day all too familiar with the specific occupational hazards. They deserve our support and I will do all I can to protect those who are in harm's way because of their jobs. We must adopt a policy of zero tolerance for those thugs who threaten the very essence of what these people do. While all citizens are equal, we must prioritise the rights of some of these workers and send out a strong message out that we will stand up for those working in front-line services. On that basis, I am calling for a debate on the issue.