Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to join Senator Ardagh in calling on the Minister for justice to come to the House at the earliest possible time to discuss the increase in anti-social behaviour not only in our capital city but throughout the country. It is something that is unfortunately happening in all of our major towns and gardaí do not seem to be around to deal with it.

I would also like the Minister, when he comes to the House, to address the cut in the budgets of the Garda divisional districts. Those budgets have been cut, in some cases, by up to 80%. They are struggling to provide a skeleton policing service in most parts of the country. I appreciate there is a gangland difficulty in this city. While that needs to be stamped out and requires a huge amount of resources, it should not be to the detriment of districts like Cavan and Monaghan and other Garda districts throughout the country. I look forward to the Minister coming to this House and addressing the situation. It is an unfortunate fact that the Garda does not have the resources to carry out the day-to-day duties necessary to protect the ordinary, law-abiding citizens of the State.