Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is an important point to make. The reality is that we are not getting increased numbers of gardaí on the ground. We have fewer members of the force on the ground.

From the people whom I know in the Garda Síochána, morale is at an all-time low. We have heard the story of the detective unit in Cavan, in which the six detectives have no car between them. In Sligo, there is one car to be shared among the eight detectives. Other Senators made the point about the lack of resources. Of course, the top brass are being wheeled out to say all is well and that we are winning the battle. We are losing the battle.

As Deputy McGinley was sent in to deal with the motion, I will return to the areas in his constituency, Dunkineely and Churchill, to Annagry to Glencolmcille. Will he say to those people, "What's the problem? The Garda station in Stepaside in the constituency of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, had to close." Stepaside is no more than six or seven minutes away from the Garda station in Donnybrook----