Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Fianna Fáil has mixed views on this Bill and while we welcome this debate in this House, I will be opposing it because my party probably is more against it than for it. That said, it is an issue that should be debated in this Chamber. Perhaps Members will be able to tease out some of their difficulties in this regard on Committee and Report Stages.

At the outset and while I will not labour the point, it would be remiss of me to let this opportunity pass without alerting the Minister - if he needs alerting - to the deteriorating situation with regard to the problems with the gardaí, the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI. Having listened to the Minister's input on "Drivetime" and to news reports, I consider it to be of great public concern that the Minister might address this issue before it deteriorates any further.