Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 25 Senators who contributed. I join Senator O'Donnell in welcoming the children from the school in Limerick whom I had the pleasure of meeting on the corridor. I also welcome the workers from Cavan Youthreach who are doing great work, not least having to endure Senator Wilson on occasion. I commend them on the great work they are doing. As a former director of adult education, I know they do tremendous work, which is of value of our communities and society.

Senators Conway-Walsh, Bacik, Wilson, Feighan, Daly and McFadden raised the ongoing issue relating to An Garda Síochána. It is important to recognise the importance of the force to our society and our communities. All of us should thank and commend the men and women who patrol our streets and neighbourhoods and who act as the guardians of the law to keep all of us safe. It is important that we acknowledge, and pay tribute to, the rank and file members of An Garda Síochána. We can all point out the community garda, local sergeant, inspector or superintendent in our communities who do Trojan work. They do this at unsocial hours at times and in difficult conditions. I am a member of the joint policing committee for Cork city and county and I am aware of the work gardaí do. They are as frustrated as many of us by the ongoing issues pertaining to the force. It is important that, as Senator Daly rightly said, we do not politicise the issue. That is why I will not take lectures from Sinn Féin Members regarding An Garda Síochána. Their new found interest in, and respect for, the force, while welcome, should always have been there and it should not be ambiguous.