Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Fianna Fáil Party has supported six of the Bills that the Minister has introduced in the Seanad and cannot be accused, as we were earlier, of being opportunistic. If the Government is doing good work then my party will support the Minister. As I have said before, he is one of the hardest working Ministers with responsibility for the justice portfolio that we have ever had in this country. I compliment him on his work, brains and energy.

I shall use my time to talk about two issues. First, in the north west, thugs and criminals can make a quick getaway across the Border after attacking vulnerable people in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. The PSNI and the Garda Síochána have not liaised enough when it comes to the Border region. I have raised the matter at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Both organisations must work more closely. Why not have simultaneous road blocks on either side of the Border to improve vigilance? Civil servants will probably give me a Civil Service answer by stating that there is great contact between them but I do not believe them. That contact is not up to scratch. If I was in the Minister's shoes I would put the screws on Matt Baggott, the Chief Constable of PSNI, and the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan, to get their act together in an efficient way and to adopt proper management.

I have researched the issue and discovered that Garda management is not up to modern standards. We know that its members are dedicated but, following my research over the past three weeks, I have discovered that we need top class sergeants located in areas who know how to manage the gardaí under their control. I have been led to believe, and people have told me, that there is not proper management in the force, which is a serious issue.

I produced a Fianna Fáil policy paper on quality caring and active ageing and I discovered that social isolation and fear among older people living in rural areas is a real issue. It is sad to think that we have reached the stage in this developed economy where older people must live in fear of being attacked and mugged. Apparently, some people have resorted to leaving money on their kitchen table as a precaution in order that they can give it to a burglar if one enters their home.

Last Sunday I participated in a protest at Stepaside which is in the Minister's constituency. I can show Members a picture of myself and the former assistant Garda commissioner, Mr. Martin Donnellan, Mr. Richard Murphy and Deputy Mattie McGrath attending the protest. I am sure that the Minister got a good report on the protest and the prevailing atmosphere. The people of Stepaside will not give up on the issue. The new suburb has a population of 30,000 but it is also a mixture of people and professions and I spoke about a group earlier. However, the Minister will know as well as I do that the area is inherently rural. I look forward to his explanation for the closure of the Stepaside Garda station. Criminals can make a quick getaway because Stepaside is located beside the M50. The area provides an important fabric of employment and we must protect the people in the region.

I speak on behalf of my colleague, Senator Denis O'Donovan, when I say that we both agree that the Minister has done a good job. Is that not right, Senator?