Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This is important legislation. We should remember we are talking about men and women of An Garda Síochána who serve to protect us all. If we ever doubt the value of the role of members of the Garda, we saw it in Covid and see it every day. Senator McDowell made a telling reference to a broken leg and the maliciousness thereof, and extrapolated that out to the types of injuries members receive every day and have received.

Men and women of An Garda Síochána who have been injured in the line of duty will provide harrowing account of their experiences, in some cases involving the death of a colleague or injury to themselves or a colleague. We all welcome the streamlining of the compensatory process but this is about front-line men and women who protect us and who are called at the worst and the best of times. I hope there will be no procrastination, roadblocks or obfuscation concerning the compensatory process. My colleague and friend, Senator Ward, made a telling point on the civilianisation of An Garda Síochána in terms of front-of-office workers, who were also referred to by Senator McDowell. In Cork, with which I am familiar, civilians who work in the front-of-office space should not be treated differently from members in terms of what is being put forward. We have all long advocated the need for civilianisation of roles to free up members of An Garda Síochána for front-line duty. Administrative roles are important but we cannot have a two-tier situation involving people working in public offices or public spaces. It is a concern many of us have about what we are debating.

This is important and timely legislation. We are making it a simple process. Senator McDowell spoke about the pathway to compensation. It is important that there is equity and fairness in the compensation process and in the model of delivery for members of An Garda Síochána. I hope we do it in a transparent and open way. This morning we heard the testimony of a young girl injured in an accident who was unhappy with the amount of money she was awarded in her compensation claim. She was knocked down in a horrific accident on her way to school. The psychological effects and trauma suffered by men and women of An Garda Síochána in the line of duty should not be forgotten and should be at the forefront of what we do.

Mar fhocal scoir, I thank members of An Garda Síochána for their work. It was a mistake that we did not prioritise their vaccination in the heat and teeth of Covid but we have been tremendously served by that body since its formation and the foundation of the State. I hope we continue to support its work. We owe its members a debt of gratitude for what they do for us every day.