Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As Leader of the House, I acknowledge the presence in the Visitors Gallery of Sr. Maureen. I congratulate her on being 100 years young and wish her a happy and enjoyable day.

It is a tough task to follow Senator Martin Conway because everything he said was apt and important. I am thinking particularly of what he said about the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore, the best way to learn from the Garda's participation in activities of this nature and the efforts to improve the skill set of the valued members of our important police force. There is no doubt that we are living in turbulent times. I refer, for example, to the fallout from the Brexit vote, the attacks in Baghdad, the attack on the airport in Istanbul, the shootings of police officers in America, the prevalence of gun crime and the attack in Nice. The world and the European Union should be craving peace and security. Instead, we face huge challenges as we strive to protect and preserve law and order. When I was a student at Maynooth college, Professor Ronan Drury used to say, "The world is not half settled". That comes to mind today. In this world, when we should be talking about solidarity and security, we are under threat.

The motion before the House gives us an important opportunity to build and develop co-operation across Europe with our law enforcement officials. I want to look at what we are trying to achieve. We are trying to eradicate conflict at a time when the threat of conventional and unconventional terrorism seems to be growing. That is why the motion is so important. On a daily basis we hear stories of ordinary people being killed or injured by supposedly ordinary people who do not have links with any terrorist organisation but which have resources that would put some of the other armed leaders in the world to shame. We must move the world in which we live and co-exist towards one in which security is built and - this is the key phrase - co-operation developed.

I would like to refer to what is at the fundamental heart of CEPOL. It is about encouraging cross-border co-operation, fighting crime, protecting and providing security, enhancing the public security of all citizens across the European union, facilitating intercountry co-operation and, as Senator Martin Conway rightly said, sharing ideas and research. In this new modern world it is critical that we consider how best to engage with and help our law enforcement officials to train and be a pillar and bastion of security. It is worth mentioning another important point in this context. The motion is not just about law enforcement officials; it is also about extending these structures of co-operation, training and development to Customs officials. The Leas-Chathaoirleach and I live in coastal areas. County Cork is on the coast. While the threat of terrorism in our localities may be limited, there is a need for Customs officials to develop links with law enforcement officials and work in tandem with them. For that reason, I am glad that the motion mentions Customs officials.

I was struck by Senator Martin Conway's remarks about specialist gardaí who have demonstrably brought a significant amount of knowledge and information to bear across the world and who would benefit from training and development. Senator Ivana Bacik mentioned the fundamental principles of human rights that relate to law and order and decency. One cannot have a state stating it intends to impose the death penalty on citizens who were involved in a coup, regardless of how right or wrong it was. We all accept that the coup in question was not right. We are trying to build an emerging consensus for co-operation across Europe in how we handle law and order and security issues.

I welcome the motion. It is important that we equip the men and women of An Garda Síochána who have shown across the world that they, as Irish people, are able to perform in and bring life to many difficult situations. I thank the Minister of State for bringing the motion before the House. It is important that we allow for this type of activity which enables gardaí to learn from their counterparts in other states as part of their training in the Garda College in Templemore. I am glad that this is going to be done. Equally, I am glad that my party reopened the college. As Senator Martin Conway said, it is to be hoped we never see it closed again.