Garda Resources: Motion (Resumed): 6 Feb 2013: Seanad debates (KildareStreet.com)

Seanad debates

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Garda Resources: Motion (Resumed)

The following motion was moved by Senator Denis O'Donovan on Wednesday, 6 February 2013: That Seanad Éireann: ? acknowledges the central role that An Garda Síochána has played in providing security for the State and the people of Ireland since its foundation; ? recognises the vital need for a well resourced, strong Garda force in tackling the evolving threat of criminality in Ireland; ? records the views of the Garda Commissioner that he would not like to see the strength of the force drop below 13,000 members; ? notes the pivotal role that Garda stations play in the fabric of rural Ireland, their central position in the life of the towns and villages they serve and their part in effective, on the ground community policing; ? notes with grave concern the disturbing rise in burglary levels across the country, particularly in commuter belt areas and the impact this has had on the safety and security of the family home across the country; ? observes the disturbing number of illegal dissident actions in the past number of months and the growing threat of dissident terrorist activity; ? further notes the rise in gangland related murders in 2012 and the ongoing threat of gangland violence across the country; ? strongly criticises the draconian closure of 140 Garda stations across the State with over 100 stations that closed on 31 January 2013, particularly in vulnerable rural areas where appalling crimes on isolated elderly homeowners have taken place and in busy urban stations such as Stepaside and Kill O the Grange in Dublin; ? fully opposes the covert reduction in Garda numbers to dangerously low levels through the whittling away of the Garda payroll that jeopardises the effectiveness of the force in protecting Irish citizens; ? vehemently disagrees with the Government?s failure to address the degradation of the Garda vehicle fleet which has an integral part in tackling crime; ? calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality to reopen Templemore to Garda recruitment to ensure the force does not fall to negligent strength; and ? further calls on the Minister to reverse his attack on the physical infrastructure of rural Ireland and stop the closure of Garda stations across the country.

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1: To delete all words after ??That??, and substitute the following:"? acknowledges the vital role of An Garda Síochána in providing security to the State and protection to the public; ? acknowledges the investment of ¤4m in the Garda fleet in 2012 which provided for the purchase of a total of 213 vehicles and the additional allocation of a dedicated ¤5m for the purchase of new Garda vehicles in 2013; ? recognises in particular the value of the recent significant reforms in An Garda Síochána in making more efficient use of resources and delivering a more effective policing service; ? recognises the importance of ensuring the continued capacity of An Garda Síochána to combat crime effectively and welcomes the Government?s commitment to maintain resources at the highest possible level; ? recognises the continued success of An Garda Síochána in tackling crime, reflected in the downward trend in most categories of crime; ? welcomes the continued impact Operation Fiacla is having in tackling burglary around the country, with the arrest of 3,538 persons and 1,924 persons charged between April and December 2012; ? supports in particular the measures being taken by An Garda Síochána to tackle organised and gangland crime, including extensive drug seizures and associated arrests, as well as ongoing operations to disrupt and prosecute criminal terrorists; and ? resolves to continue to support An Garda Síochána in the prevention and detection of crime and the bringing of criminals to justice.".- (Senator Paul Bradford).

5:15 pm

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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