Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Fianna Fáil spokesperson for justice, I rise to acknowledge and congratulate Ms Nóirín O’Sullivan on her appointment as Garda Commissioner. It is important to note that the chief Garda whistleblower, Sergeant Maurice McCabe, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and many others in political and civil society also welcomed the announcement. It was done in a very transparent and fair way and will bring a fresh approach to policing.

However, the morale of rank-and-file gardaí is at an all-time low. This is a matter I have raised before in the House. Will the Leader convey this to the Minister for Justice and Equality? In her reforms of the Garda, I hope morale of the force will be restored. Respect for the force is not good and is at the lowest ebb I have seen in my lifetime. Rank-and-file gardaí were not responsible for any glitches in policing. Their morale and authority needs to be restored, which might regenerate respect for the force in its front-line work.

Yesterday, Senator Craughwell raised the issue of funding for non-Gaeltacht islands. There are six such islands in my constituency - Cape Clear is the only Gaeltacht island - namely, Dursey Island, Whiddy Island, Bere Island, Long Island, Hare Island and Sherkin Island. It is ridiculous that the funding traditionally given to all these islanders will be reduced considerably or even abolished. Many of the islands off the west Cork coast are no longer inhabited. Two of them are in private ownership, which is a disgrace. People are forced to leave islands because they are not getting supports. Access to many of them can be restricted for up to ten days if winter conditions are atrocious. Their inhabitants should be given great credit and support to continue living on these islands. The funding for these islands, which is relatively modest, should be retained and reinforced. Those living on these islands deserve credit for staying on them, bringing up their children on them and keeping them in our ownership. The notion of any of the uninhabited islands being sold to private enterprise, wealthy Germans or whoever is an absolute disgrace, particularly when those who left the islands 30 or 40 years ago cannot go back to visit them because they are no-go areas.