Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Seanad Éireann: ? acknowledges the central role that An Garda Síochána has played in providing security for the State and the people of Ireland since its foundation;
? recognises the vital need for a well resourced, strong Garda force in tackling the evolving threat of criminality in Ireland;
? records the views of the Garda Commissioner that he would not like to see the strength of the force drop below 13,000 members;
? notes the pivotal role that Garda stations play in the fabric of rural Ireland, their central position in the life of the towns and villages they serve and their part in effective, on the ground community policing;
? notes with grave concern the disturbing rise in burglary levels across the country, particularly in commuter belt areas and the impact this has had on the safety and security of the family home across the country;
? observes the disturbing number of illegal dissident actions in the past number of months and the growing threat of dissident terrorist activity;
? further notes the rise in gangland related murders in 2012 and the ongoing threat of gangland violence across the country;
? strongly criticises the draconian closure of 140 Garda stations across the State with over 100 stations that closed on 31 January 2013, particularly in vulnerable rural areas where appalling crimes on isolated elderly homeowners have taken place and in busy urban stations such as Stepaside and Kill O the Grange in Dublin;
? fully opposes the covert reduction in Garda numbers to dangerously low levels through the whittling away of the Garda payroll that jeopardises the effectiveness of the force in protecting Irish citizens;
? vehemently disagrees with the Government?s failure to address the degradation of the Garda vehicle fleet which has an integral part in tackling crime;
? calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality to reopen Templemore to Garda recruitment to ensure the force does not fall to negligent strength; and
? further calls on the Minister to reverse his attack on the physical infrastructure of rural Ireland and stop the closure of Garda stations across the country.

In recent weeks, particularly in the past 12 days, very serious issues have arisen with regard to the Garda Síochána, including the closure of rural barracks, the provision of resources and so forth. It is with deep regret that we must offer our sympathy to the family of the late Garda Adrian Donohoe who was murdered in County Louth. When I read the Sunday newspapers, I was deeply concerned by certain comments and statements, either made on the Minister's behalf or by others, in this regard. The headline in the Sunday Independent indicated that the Minister had been asked to stay away from the home of the late Garda Donohoe. Will the Minister confirm if this was the case, either directly or indirectly? If so, it is a hugely significant and worrying departure for him. Is he aware that the family and colleagues of the late Garda Donohoe were extremely angry at the insensitive closure of approximately 95 Garda stations the day after the funeral? I hope he will comment on this. Furthermore, one of the newspaper articles referred to what was, perhaps, a flippant, throwaway remark. The article was about a remark some people say the Minister had made in the ante room of the Seanad about how many Garda stations he could close in ten minutes. If he made that remark, it might be appropriate for him to apologise for it during this debate. I do not think he intended to make it or if he did, it is very regrettable because it certainly does not augur well for policing in rural Ireland.

Does the Minister accept that there has been a significant drop in morale in the past 12 months among rank and file gardaí? This is a matter of serious concern. Does he accept that the Garda is under-resourced in respect of modern technology and state-of-the-art equipment? It is even alleged that some of the guns carried by gardaí are outdated. Although the Minister has said he is providing new Garda vehicles, Garda cars are not up to the mark in matching the vehicles being used by the criminals we are all trying to fight. Does he also agree that a significant reason, although not the sole one, that the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, are pulling out of the Croke Park talks is the closure of Garda stations, what has been described as the Minister's abrupt manner towards rank and file gardaí and a lack of faith in his stewardship? It is a very regrettable move. I would prefer if the Garda representative bodies stayed at the talks and it is a matter the Minister could appropriately address tonight.

I have tabled a number of motions in the House because I feel passionately about this issue. I supported the Minister on and welcomed the last six Bills he brought to the House, but the closure of rural Garda stations is a huge concern for me and the area where I live. He has attributed the prime blame to the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan, for the policy of so-called smart policing and the closure of 140 Garda stations nationwide. Obviously, they were not all rural Garda stations. Given that the Minister has ultimate responsibility for dealing with crime, is it not a convenient derogation from the Minister's responsibility to deal with it? If the Commissioner is the driving force, it might be appropriate for the Minister to have a word with him in this regard. In the light of the closure of Stepaside Garda station in the Minister's constituency and the fact that over 2,000 people came out to protest against this last week, will he now reconsider this rather daft and ridiculous policy of closing these Garda stations? He has already conceded in the House that there will be little or no financial saving as a result.

Does the Minister accept that the continued mothballing of the Templemore training college and the reduction in the number of gardaí are a recipe for disaster and that this does not rest easily with rank and file gardaí or the general public? I will give an example of the closure of rural Garda stations. The electoral area I previously represented on the council, the Bantry electoral area, contains the peninsula of Mizen Head which is roughly 35 miles long from Skibbereen to the end, the Sheep's Head Peninsula and the Beara Peninsula. There are two resident gardaí covering these areas. If a garda in the main station in Bantry or Skibbereen answers an emergency call to attend a burglary or stave off some criminal activity, some of these peninsulas are more than an hour's drive away; therefore, this is very regrettable.

As I am aware the Minister has a keen interest in this matter, I am putting my question not to entrap him in any way but to get to the truth. Is he concerned about the lack of progress in the investigation into the appalling and dastardly murder of Garda Donohoe? There are reports that it is known who the people are. The Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, is involved and it is said to be a Border gang, with members from the North and the South. I am concerned at the lack of progress in having some of the people concerned brought in, arrested and charged, if it is known who they are.

There are large areas of rural Ireland, Goleen being an example of one such remote rural area, where not only will there be no Garda station but also there will be no garda living in these areas. There are 27 or 28 gardaí in Bantry Garda station, but 18 of them do not live anywhere near the town. Gone are the days when if a garda was stationed in Bantry or Skibbereen, he or she lived there and worked within the community. The concern I am expressing on behalf of community groups is that where there is a large rural area where no garda lives in it and the Garda station is closed, it is not good enough that a garda who is unknown to the community comes into the area on an à la carte basis.

Is the Minister concerned that there is growing anger and discontent among the general public at the breakdown of law and order in communities? Does it trouble him that the closure of many banks and post offices in rural areas will encourage crime and heighten fear among vulnerable and older communities? There will be a tendency to keep money at home. I tabled a motion on the closure of the AIB branches in Schull and Ballydehob on the Mizen Peninsula. I realise it is not the Minister's area of responsibility, but there appears to be no joined-up thinking. I call on the Government to seriously consider the appointment of a senior Minister with responsibility for community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs, as was the case up to the last general election. That is significant because rural communities believe they have no voice.

I am not being parochial but simply trying to give the Minister a picture of what is happening in rural areas. On the Mizen Peninsula about 14 years ago there was the appalling murder of the beautiful French lady, Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Her family were there last weekend for a service; they come every year. Will the Minister convey my concern and that of the community at the lack of progress in solving that appalling crime? It was a senseless and brutal murder and people are wondering if the file on it has been closed or if it is an ongoing case. It is a matter of concern for many in rural communities that the murder remains unsolved. There were reports and investigations by the Garda into what had gone wrong. Is the Minister concerned that there was bad policing on the part of the Garda in the pursuit of a particular person who is widely accused of committing the crime?

I ask the Minister to reconsider and re-evaluate his policies with regard to the management and resourcing of the Garda Síochána before it is too late and another innocent garda or citizen of the country is murdered.

I have raised many questions for the Minister. I am not speaking in a provocative fashion. In three weeks' time we will enter the third year of this Government. It is not good enough for the Minister to say that the Fianna Fáil-led Government of three years ago planned this or that. We must move on. The Minister is in charge in a new Government. I have attended several rural Lions meetings in the past number of months. I am not saying the previous Government was entirely blameless but there is a new scenario with new developments. Gangland crime has never been so severe in terms of the number of murders committed in the capital and in the vicinity of the capital. Many of them are gangsters who are taken out but very few successful prosecutions have been taken in respect of these crimes. In responding, I hope the Minister will acknowledge the good faith of Members on this side. I am deeply concerned and I have a deep passion for rural Ireland. It worries me if there is a disintegration of the fabric of society in which I grew up and continue to live. I hope the Minister will take my questions and concerns in the good faith I intend to portray.