Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In recent days, a member of An Garda Síochána, Garda Padraig Scott, who lives about 40 km from me at home, was brutally attacked in County Cavan where he was on duty. I will not say much about the case because we do not know a lot about it at the moment. However, I would like the House to wish Garda Scott well today and to utterly and totally condemn another attack on a member of An Garda Síochána.

In the middle of the night, Garda Scott obviously noticed something that was not correct and he has paid a great price for that. I am glad to say that Garda Scott is now out of hospital. He is at home with his family. We wish him a speedy recovery.

We should have a discussion about crime. We tend to let these things go. It is a very serious matter that these attacks are happening. The young men and women entering the force at the moment are heroes. They have a great many issues to deal with and we sometimes let them down. They are also let down by the courts. They are frustrated. It is time that we had a good open debate. Where members of An Garda Síochána do wrong, the law should deal with them, but we have a good force in general. I look at the many young men and women turning out to join An Garda Síochána. There is a campaign urging them to join. We must stand with them. I am sure everybody will join with me in wishing Garda Scott a speedy recovery.

I will also very quickly send my good wishes to Aoife O'Rourke from Castlerea in Roscommon who, along with Kellie Harrington, won a gold medal in boxing in a major international competition in Sofia at the weekend. I wish her and Kellie Harrington the very best of luck. I also congratulate Fiona Tully of the St. Coman's Handball Club in Roscommon who won a major tournament in Missouri in the USA at the weekend. Every weekend, sports stars from Ireland, whether their sport is handball, ladies' soccer, golf or something else, give Ireland a great name across the world. We should always pay tribute to them.