Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That poses the question as to how we view our health system. That is especially the case, give the highest ever expenditure announced in the budget last week. There is also the question as to why the accident and emergency department is our first port of call. Where is our primary care system? Why is that not functioning to the level and capacity needed to have people perceive it to be the first point of contact? Why is that the emergency department? We will have that debate with the Minister in due course.

Senator Craughwell welcomed two people from Cork and I join with him in that. Senators Norris and Nash raised the issue of Syria. It is a source of distress and concern and we all join in the condemnation of what is happening there. The vacuum being created by the policy of the American Administration is being filled by Russia and Assad. It is unacceptable. The geopolitical landscape has changed in the space of a week because of the policy of the American Administration. It is extraordinary that President Trump's own party, the Republican Party, is fundamentally disagreeing with him on this matter. It is not good. As Senators Nash and Norris stated, we all protest and condemn the actions occurring in Syria. In a serious of interviews in the last few days, the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, made the Government's position very clear. I would be happy, however, to have a debate on this matter in due course, with the Minister in attendance.

Senators Murnane O'Connor and Gallagher raised the issue of Garda numbers. While I do not wish to engage in political crossfire with the Senators opposite me, they have a very short memory. It was their party, when it was in power, that closed Templemore Garda College, reduced Garda numbers, failed to fill vacancies, put a moratorium in place on recruitment, hiring and promotion and cut the pay and conditions of members of An Garda Síochána. That is their legacy. Under this Government, new members of the Garda have been recruited, the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by €190 million to include funding for 700 new gardaí and additional staff. Moreover, civilianisation of An Garda Síochána has taken place, meaning that more gardaí are out in the community. Senator Gallagher may shake his head with disbelief but I will bring him to Cork to meet the gardaí who are now in community policing. Members of the Garda are moving out of stations to be replaced with civilians. Just last month, Commissioner Harris-----