Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Sorry, Senator Chambers, Leader of the House, I take that point. It is a valid point. What I will say is, as it will save me from eating into my time, I strongly recommend people get a copy of the Irish Daily Mail. There were 311 words published on 5 September 2022. I will circulate it to everyone this afternoon so therefore that sets out some of the record. The rest of course can be linked to on The Plinthwebsite and to the documents here. I am just making a point. I support every aspect of the motion and am glad to see people have had a change of heart and have now come around to the idea that this designated transport police unit is a good thing. I am there with you and it has taken a long time to get to this point.I will finish with two other points. I met two gardaí one afternoon on Capel Street in recent weeks. I asked them what were the challenges in policing and one said, "By golly, they are difficult. We are scared out of our wits policing Dublin at night." Those two gardaí were on Capel Street. We need to be mindful of them and of their personal safety. I am very supportive of An Garda Síochána and the very difficult tasks the gardaí have. I believe we all stand in solidarity with them. This is important.

My final point relates to the Garda Reserve. My colleague, the former Minister for Justice, Senator McDowell may have touched on it earlier. He introduced the Garda Reserve. I had met members of the Reserve who say they were intimidated, bullied, harassed and chased out of Garda stations. They said they felt there was no role for them and that the permanent gardaí felt there was no role for them. I disagree. I have friends who have been in the Garda Reserve and they have a valid contribution to make. They have an important contribution. Many of them are drawn from their own communities. I ask the Minister of State to go back to the Department and consider tapping into that great resource, re-energising and reactivating the Garda Reserve. It is a good organisation. Many people have lent their services there and have given and made a great contribution to An Garda Síochána through the Reserve programme. It is something we should explore in greater detail.