Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join with other Senators in wishing Enda Kenny and his family well as he steps down as Taoiseach today. I sat in the Gallery of the Dáil to listen to him and I was struck by the modesty and simplicity of his speech, which should be acknowledged. He clearly demonstrated that he is a man with enormous energy who has mastered the craft of politics and how it is done, which is to be admired. There was a great expectation that his speech would be surrounded by razzmatazz or a circus but it was not. He has done this State an amazing service and we wish him well. Politics is a tough old business. We have our laughs and scraps in this Chamber but at the end of the day there are always people behind the politician.One must be mindful of them, so I wish the family well.

Another matter I wish to raise was raised by Senator Ó Ríordáin, who has now left. It is important that we invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to the House as soon as possible. I am reliably informed that there were a number of tweets from the Cabinet today regarding Stepaside Garda station. I understand there is literature about it circulating in the constituency, so it was clearly primed and ready. People have received printed literature stating that Stepaside Garda station is being re-opened. I am delighted about Stepaside Garda station, but many Members here represent and are in communication with community representatives across the country for whom rural and community policing are very important matters. We must have an explanation of the rationale for this Garda station being re-opened rather than others. Why not the ones in Dalkey or Kill-O-The-Grange, two other stations that closed at the same time, as well as stations in north Dublin, Cork and other places? There must be an explanation. I ask that the Minister for Justice and Equality be invited to the House to explain the reason for that decision.