Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree that we should have a debate on the report by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate under Chief Inspector Robert Olson. It is a one-sided report. I note the comments by the Acting Garda Commissioner, Noirín O'Sullivan, that the men and women of An Garda Síochána are focused on providing a police service of which the people of Ireland can be proud. I am certainly proud of the Garda. It is an unarmed force and its members have laid down their lives to protect Irish citizens against subversive elements since the foundation of the State. We remember Jerry McCabe who in 1996 gave up his life in Adare for this country. We remember Garda Morley and Garda Byrne in County Roscommon, and Garda Dick Fallon.

I could go through a list of heroes whose contributions should be recognised. The Garda Inspectorate was not allowed to advise the Government on the optimum strength of the Garda force or study what would be the required numbers in a country with a population of 4.5 million. It was told not to make recommendations on this issue as to do so could embarrass the Government. Having reduced the size of the force from 14,500 to 12,000 and mothballed the Garda training college in Templemore for three years, the Government expects a force of 12,000 to carry out the same work as a force of 14,500. Could one expect the Garda Inspectorate to make findings other than those made in its report? The Garda traffic corps has been reduced in strength from 1,200 members to 800. Senior gardaí, the most experienced members of the force, have been given early retirement and bought out by a Government which expects gardaí to be experienced. The Government has closed down Garda stations all over the country and gardaí do not even have official e-mail addresses. The Garda fleet has deteriorated to such an extent that gardaí are forced to use what can only be described as bangers. It is no surprise, therefore, that the Garda Inspectorate has produced a report of this nature on a force that has been neglected and ignored by the Government. An Garda Síochána has performed excellent work on behalf of the State. The Government may gloat over this report, but I am very proud of gardaí and want to give their side of the story.