Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the great work that brave gardaí are doing at present on very limited resources. Garda overtime has been a serious issue of late. The situation has become extreme in Drogheda, County Louth recently. I have spoken to gardaí there who have had to cancel holidays, which is most unfortunate. If the proper resources were in place, Garda overtime would have been used to resolve the policing issue involved.

I also refer to the various Garda resources and the lack of equipment. To be fair to the Garda, its members work night and day in order that the ordinary people of the State can sleep safely in their beds. The least we could do is to equip them properly, pay them a fair and just wage, adequate overtime rates and out-of-pocket expenses due to them. Will the Leader impress on the Minister the need for more resources for the Garda? The new Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, must do his job. He has started well. He has taken the bull by the horns in certain high-profile cases. I implore the Leader to ensure the Minister resources the Garda properly and pays its members justly for the work they are doing.