Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Limerick is a city today in which we do not have huge crime. It is a pleasurable city to visit. It was done by co-operation across the board between communities, gardaí, and elected representatives in Limerick who had a direct line into the Garda station. Where there was a problem, it was possible to fix it.

The Minister must fix the terms and conditions of employment for gardaí, and engage with the GRA, the AGSI and the superintendents with respect to such things as rosters and supports. I too would welcome body cameras and other such measures. All of these things are important, but we need to move them forward fast. The Minister must fix the terms and conditions of employment, specifically the pensions. She must go back to the pre-2008 pensions for uniformed services in order to encourage people to come in and to give full-life service. I am afraid the post-2013 pension has destroyed the services. That is not a pinch point. That is a stranglehold on the organisation and the organisation will die. Just as the Defence Forces have fallen apart, it will die because people see no career future in it. I know it is not the Minister's area of responsibility, but I ask her to go back to the Minister that has responsibility and say that they must sit down and look at how we deal with uniformed services and their pensions. I will leave it at that.