Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank him for his comprehensive response to the motion. I also thank Fianna Fáil for tabling the motion because it offers an opportunity to tease out the new policing arrangements. I agree with the sentiments expressed by Senator MacSharry in regard to the Member of the other House and his recent stupid and ridiculous comments.

I want to state my total and unequivocal support for An Garda Síochána and compliment the force on the service it provides to the citizens of this State and the exemplary work its members have done over the years in protecting communities throughout the country. It is unfortunate that people are playing politics with the recent reforms announced by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, which are designed to provide a more efficient and effective police force, as well as to make more efficient use of the scarce resources of the State.

We will not go back over why the resources of the State are so scarce, but we are all aware of the difficult times we live in, where every service is under pressure. The Garda Síochána and the Commissioner are obliged to use their resources as effectively and efficiently as possible. As politicians, we must stop being so irresponsible and stop frightening the people with untrue statements and comments that do not stand up.

As the Minister has said, Garda strength is over 13,400 and will remain at over 13,000 for the next number of years. We also have a reserve force of over 1,000. Some 100 stations are to be closed, one of which is in my home parish and which station was open for three hours a day. Hand on heart, I only got one phone call as a result of the closure of that Garda station. The reason there was no outcry is because the gardaí came to the community and spoke to representatives of residents and assured them adequate cover would be provided and that gardaí would patrol the area and provide an up-to-date, modern policing service to the community. The same happened in several communities around east Galway.

I have a difficulty with regard to Garda vehicles and I am glad the Minister has addressed this recently. When the parish of New Inn was informed it was to be provided for by Kilreekil, I was told there was no Garda car in Kilreekil to provide that service. However, I am pleased to learn that the situation is being rectified as a result of the moneys - an additional ¤5 million this year - the Minister is making available for the purchase and replacement of Garda vehicles. I want to see gardaí out in the community and patrolling areas and interacting with communities on a regular basis. They should be out in the community at peak demand times and should be there to deal with mobile criminals who are patrolling various parts of the country. A garda sitting in a Garda station in rural Ireland is not much use when we have criminals who are very mobile and roaming rural Ireland and making use of our new, improved road network for their criminal activities.

I welcome the new roster system. I have been told by quite a number of gardaí that it is working very well and many of them welcome the fact it is more family friendly and more effective in helping them perform their duties. I share the concerns expressed by many speakers with regard to the fear felt by the elderly in isolated areas. However, as the Minister said, we cannot have a garda protecting every house in the country. The protection of the elderly will be more successful if we have regular Garda patrols throughout our communities, which will interact with the local Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert people. We revamped the Neighbourhood Watch system in my area recently and it is working effectively and people feel more secure as a result.

I compliment the Minister on the work he is doing. This motion was timely and appropriate, but as public representatives we need to row in behind the Garda Commissioner and the Minister to ensure that as a result of the commitment being given, we will have a smarter, more effective and more efficient policing system throughout the country, using the scarce resources we have got. In years to come, we should be able to look back and wonder why we did not take this route earlier.