Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can drive from my house to Dundrum Garda station in four minutes while it would take me seven minutes to get to Stepaside?s. It is the opinion of the Garda Commissioner that there is no operational benefit to maintaining these two Garda stations in such close proximity. As a constituency representative, there is no doubt that my life would be more comfortable if Stepaside Garda station was not on the list for closure. However, I accept the professional advice of the Garda Commissioner on foot of the operational assessment conducted throughout the country, including in my constituency.

In a different era Ministers could be predicted to block any contentious development in their own constituencies to protect themselves locally from adverse comment and constituency rivals getting people excited and organising protests. However, I believe it is important to make the right decision, not the politically personally advantageous decision. For that reason I reiterate, I will not second-guess the professional advice of the Garda Commissioner.

In the London metropolitan area, which has a population three times that of the entire population of this State, 66 police stations are due to close, leaving 73 police stations open to the public. Is it seriously being suggested that, with the advances we have seen in modern policing, transport and technology, we should act as if time had stood still since 1922? Should we maintain a police network based on what we inherited from the British and which was devised between 1850 and 1900 to keep an eye on the rebellious Irish?

Garda stations come under the control of the Office of Public Works. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, has confirmed that, if an appropriate community management structure is put in place, the closed stations can be utilised for local community purposes. This can be of considerable benefit to a variety of local voluntary organisations which currently lack appropriate facilities. The Garda Commissioner has stated the revised structures will continue to support the Garda community philosophy through the clustering of services at policing hubs. This centralisation of services will facilitate the introduction of enhanced patrolling arrangements which, in turn, will provide increased Garda visibility, as well as maintaining existing Garda links with communities across the country.

In addition, an Garda Síochána has recently acquired a number of vehicles which are being converted into mobile Garda offices. It is planned they will be assigned to areas where Garda stations have been closed to ensure that members of the public can continue to conduct their business and interact with members of an Garda Síochána. These offices will be in place with the agreement of the community on a particular day to deal with basic policing issues. In addition to the role that all gardaí have to play in community policing, there are more than 1,000 gardaí dedicated to community policing countrywide. Gardaí continue to work closely with all communities to enhance community safety through a wide range of local fora such as Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch.

It was claimed earlier that some communities are re-establishing Neighbourhood Watch schemes which I would encourage. We need an extension of these schemes. Last Thursday, a new memorandum of understanding was completed between an Garda Síochána and Muintir na Tíre. Community Text is an important pilot scheme. If a member of a community sees something suspicious, he or she can text to a communal text alert which can be shared with neighbours and the Garda. It is simple and inexpensive which community gardaí will help establish. I encourage Members to engage with their communities not to create unnecessary fear, but assist them to set up such schemes. It does not matter how many gardaí we have. They cannot be standing outside every person?s front door.

My Department, along with the Health Service Executive, HSE, has, for many years, supported the work of the Community Alert programme, which was set up in 1985 by Muintir na Tíre in association with the Garda authorities. This programme has since developed into a national movement comprising over 1,300 local groups which work with the Garda to promote crime prevention and improve the security of older and vulnerable persons in the community. Last year, my Department achieved savings which we did not believe we could achieve. Subsequently, we managed to find an additional ¤40,000 to give to this scheme.

An Garda Síochána has risen to the challenges that it faces in the current economic climate. Change is being delivered in co-operation with the members and staff in the Garda Síochána. Without doubt, the single largest transformation project in the Garda Síochána, and arguably in the public service, has been the development and implementation of a new roster system in the force. Not only does the new roster provide a more effective policing service, it also protects the health and welfare of the members of the Garda Síochána. The new Garda roster system ensures that resources are optimally deployed when and where they are required, to every part of the community, both rural and urban. Evidence of the new roster is immediately apparent on our streets as more gardaí are on duty at times of peak demand and fewer during quieter periods. This is essentially what this reform is about - doing things differently but more effectively.

This revised roster was introduced under the provisions of the public service agreement. Every Member will be aware that discussions are under way on revisions to the public service agreement. I am disappointed some organisations have chosen to absent themselves from the discussions on any reductions in allowances and I would hope they will reconsider this decision. The discussions are focused on the unpalatable truth that the public service pay bill must be reduced. I do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of the talks by making any further comment at this time other than to confirm that I am firmly committed to ensuring resources remain at the highest level possible that will enable the Garda Commissioner, his senior management team and all members of An Garda Síochána to continue to deliver an outstanding policing service to the people. I encourage all those who are engaged in this process to remain in dialogue to find a solution to the problems that all of us are facing.

In response to allegations about increased crime levels throughout the country, the crime statistics for the 12 months ending on 30 September 2012 show reductions in 12 of the 14 crime groups. Crimes against the person are down, including homicide offences, down 17.9%, sexual offences, down 0.7%, and assault and related offences, down 9.5%. Public order and damage to property offences are also down, by 12% and 9.3% respectively, as are drug offences, which are down 7.1%, and weapons and explosives offences, which are down 17.4%. Burglaries, however, increased by 7.9% during the period and I will comment on that presently. It is worth noting that the Garda has had a particularly successful year in confiscating drugs. Some ¤100 million worth of drugs were confiscated by the end of December 2012 from those engaged in drug crime.

I am acutely aware of the concerns that exist about the incidence of burglaries and of the corrosive effect that the fear of crime can have on community morale and its impact on elderly and more vulnerable people. Interestingly, the spike in burglaries occurred in 2011 before one Garda station had been closed. In response to the increase in the number of burglaries, Operation Fiacla was set up by the Garda Commissioner in the spring of 2012 and is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries throughout the country. Operation Fiacla has been and continues to be remarkably effective. In the period from the beginning of April 2012 to the end of January 2013 it resulted in 3,903 persons being arrested and 2,142 persons being charged with offences. In addition, the latest quarterly figures for burglary suggest that Operation Fiacla is having an impact when compared with the quarterly figures prior to its introduction.

These figures, taken with the robust response of the Garda in tackling gangland crime and the activities of paramilitary organisations, are clear evidence that while the Garda cannot avoid the economic realities it has been more than able to continue to respond effectively to crime. The most recent crime figures show that the number of aggravated burglaries is down when compared with the previous 12 months. I realise that is of no solace to some individuals who have been the victims of brutal and violent burglaries in recent weeks. The sad reality is that no matter what the policing methods and no matter how successful the Garda may be in bringing people to justice, we have always had and we will continue to have bad people, who have no respect for individuals, human rights, people's property or the privacy of their homes and who will be intent on burglary. Unfortunately some of these people have no compunction about using violence.

I assure the House that An Garda Síochána is taking all available measures to respond to this type of crime, especially in the case of what has happened in Oldcastle and the other shocking incidents which we have seen recently. I share the widespread outrage at gang-related criminal activity. The brutal nature of these crimes is a stark reminder to us of the mentality of those involved in organised criminality and the danger that they pose to our society. I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner about all aspects of serious crime and I know that the Garda will continue to bear down heavily on the activities of those involved in gangland crime.

The only effective way to combat organised crime is by disrupting and prosecuting those involved in its operations, especially the drugs trade, which is at the heart of much of its profits. We should not underestimate the difficulties the Garda faces in trying to prevent gangland killings, in particular those involving the killing of members of one gang by those of another, and related crimes and in bringing the perpetrators to justice. These crimes are carefully planned and are carried out by people who are familiar with criminal and forensic investigation techniques. Moreover, despite the clear risk to themselves, members of gangs will not generally co-operate with Garda investigations. Despite these difficulties the Garda has been able to bring people before the courts, particularly in the case of several high-profile killings in recent years, although it will take some time before those cases are disposed of.

This is not a budgetary matter. In this context, the Commissioner has made it clear that where resources are needed to combat serious and organised crime, those resources will be made available. The number of gangland murders was, in fact, higher when Garda numbers were higher and higher than they are today. It is unrealistic to expect the Commissioner to devote his entire resources to individually protecting people who are routinely trying to avoid the Garda in order that they can continue to engage in criminal activity. Such an approach could only come at the expense of ordinary Garda activity to protect the community generally.

There is already strong anti-gangland legislation in place. I have made it clear to the Garda Commissioner that if he believes there are other measures that could be taken in this area I will look at the matter very positively. Anyway, it is misleading for anyone to suggest that there is some simple legislative solution which will prevent dangerous criminals from trying to kill each other. If that were the case it would have been enacted years ago.

Despite the many positive developments in recent years in Northern Ireland, the Garda has never let up in its efforts to counteract criminal groups whose only objective is to drag our island back to a dark past. The police force has a proud record in this respect standing in defence of the State. The Garda will continue to be fully supported in its efforts to counter the activities of these subversive criminals. The fight against criminal terrorism has been and remains an absolute priority for the Garda authorities and that will not change.

The shared objective of the Government and the authorities in Northern Ireland is to enhance community safety on the whole of the island. I assure the House that, in co-operation with the authorities in Northern Ireland, we will continue to spare no effort to ensure that those criminal terrorists who seek to subvert the democratic will of the people will face the full rigours of the law. I listened with interest to what Senator White said about the Police Service of Northern Ireland and its Chief Constable, Matt Baggott. She suggested I was taking a Civil Service line but I was not; this is practical reality. I put it to Senator White that there is extraordinary co-operation going on between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI in addressing the particular issues she raised, not only the issue of subversive crime but of organised gangs who are located on one side of the Border and who set about marauding on people on the opposite side of the Border. There is the closest co-operation going on, including exchange of information and intelligence and co-ordinated operations North and South. I hope and trust that such work will bring to justice those who murdered Garda Donohoe.

In the context of general criminality there are gangs operating along the Border, some of which locate in one part of the island and commit crime on the other part of the island. Some are engaged in general criminality, including fuel laundering operations, and they have no interest in the Border; they simply operate North and South. However, there is the closest co-operation and there are regular meetings between members of An Garda Síochána and the PSNI at all levels. I have regular meetings with the Northern Ireland Minister for the Department of Justice, David Ford. We have regular contact to discuss issues of mutual concern. Meetings take place at which there are present the two ministers with responsibility for justice on this island, David Ford and myself, the Chief Constable, the Garda Commissioner and those working with us. This is a continuing and regular contact and interaction.

It is important to acknowledge that members of An Garda Síochána provide a vital service to the public. They are called into an remarkable variety of situations on a daily basis. These calls bring with them attendant risks which those in the force must assess and deal with regularly. We have had a dreadful reminder of the extent of these risks in recent days. We must never forget this nor take for granted the work the Garda carries out on our behalf. In this respect, a safe society is the responsibility of every member of that society and not only those in the Garda. The interconnection between the Garda and the community is vital in the successful delivery of a policing service in Ireland. The closure of stations that has been effected will not impede that community interaction and connection because it is one of the central objectives of the Garda Síochána that these values are maintained and this is detailed in the policing plan for 2013. Neither I, as Minister, nor the Government will shirk in our responsibility to do everything we can to ensure that this connection is not broken and that the best possible resources are made available to An Garda Síochána.

I apologise for taking so long. This is a serious issue. It is important that we discuss reality and that we do not unnecessarily engage in party political posturing or point scoring. The Garda deserves our full support. I put it to the House that despite the difficult financial circumstances in which we find ourselves and despite the agreements with the troika with which we must comply to get the funding the State still needs to pay for essential front-line services, I will continue to do everything I can as the Minister for Justice and Equality to ensure that we do for the Garda what is necessary.

I advise Senator O'Donovan and others who are interested in legislation, as well as my colleagues on my side of this House, that I expect, within the next few weeks, to publish legislation that past Governments promised on a regular basis, namely, legislation to provide for a DNA database, which should have been enacted years ago. That legislation will be published shortly. It is being finalised in the Attorney General's office and I hope it will be published before Easter or, if not, immediately afterwards. The objective is to have it enacted rapidly. When I came into office there had been much talk about the DNA database but nothing had been done to prepare the technology necessary for it to be established. During 2012, with the assistance of the forensic science laboratory, the technology was made available and ready. If this legislation is enacted we will be up and running with a DNA database before the end of this year.