Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I and my colleagues on this side of the House are increasingly concerned and dismayed, as I am sure are many Members on the Deputy Leader's side, by the Minister for Justice and Equality's handling and management of An Garda Síochána.

Unprecedented steps have been taken by Garda representative associations in the Dublin north metropolitan area, north County Cork and Cork city, in which members voted no confidence in the Minister.

Last week, our party tabled a Private Member's motion on policing and justice. Numerous times, I have raised the issue of Government policy on policing. I do not just refer to the closure of more than 130 stations, but to the downgrading of further urban and rural stations, the lack of resources provided to gardaí and the absence of new members of the Garda because the Minister will not lift the recruitment ban. Gardaí rightly have no confidence in the Minister.

I will explain what this situation entails for the people on the ground, the citizens we are supposed to represent and whom the Garda protects every day. For four and a half hours yesterday morning, not a single Garda car was operational in the entire north Dublin metropolitan area, including Coolock, Swords and Malahide Garda stations. The reason was that the Minister would not permit over-time for court appearances. Gardaí must now drive Garda cars to court. The area in question comprises more than 150,000 people. Road traffic accidents and burglaries were left unattended. This is a crisis in policing.

Last week, my colleague, Senator O'Donovan, asked the Minister 14 specific questions. The Minister would only give answers to four. His attitude to this issue is wrong. His modus operandishould be concerned with the protection of citizens. The Government, through his policies, is letting down the people and, as importantly, the gardaí. The men and women who protect us every day of the week are having the rug pulled out from under them by the Minister.

With this in mind, I want answers to Senator O'Donovan's ten questions that the Minister would not answer last week. I want him to explain why not a single Garda patrol car was operational in the north Dublin metropolitan area for four and a half hours yesterday. To this end, I am tabling an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that the Minister should attend the House to explain why such a situation was allowed to occur, what contact he has with the normal rank and file of the Garda Síochána and what he will do to win back the confidence of gardaí who, in an unprecedented step, voted no confidence in him.

This situation will get worse and worse as the days and weeks continue. In two weeks time, we will be discussing industrial action by the Garda. I am putting the Minister on notice - he should tell us what he is doing in this regard. I am formally tabling that amendment to the Order of Business.