The Tánaiste will be aware that the new Croke Park agreement has been greeted with dismay by many within the public service and the Civil Service, particularly by front-line workers. Not for the first time, we saw yesterday members of an Garda Síochána protesting the shattering cuts they are experiencing outside Government Buildings. The attempt by the Government to silence dissent among rank and file gardaí by disciplining four Garda sergeants who walked out of the AGSI, Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, annual conference in protest at the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, is utterly wrong. The Minister has treated rank and file gardaí with nothing short of contempt. Last year, we had the attempt by the Garda Commissioner, no doubt on the bidding of the Government, to forbid gardaí from communicating with public representatives on cutbacks. This was rightly challenged by the GRA, Garda Representative Association, in the courts.

It was a gagging order.

The Tánaiste and I know that morale among gardaí is at an all-time low. They are deeply disillusioned at the Government's cutback agenda, dressed up with labels such as smart policing and efficiencies. Up to 140 Garda stations have been closed over the past 18 months. The number of Garda vehicles and personnel has been significantly reduced. This has had an effect in urban areas but certainly many in rural communities are left increasingly isolated.

To add to this we have Croke Park II and pay cuts which disproportionately target front-line workers like gardaí, nurses and emergency personnel. How does the Tánaiste expect a depleted force, which to a man and a woman, has been put under significant operational pressure and personal financial pressure to deliver on the Government's so-called “smart policing”?

The terms of the Croke Park II agreement are currently the subject of a ballot among those unions party to the agreement. All of us, including Opposition Members, should respect the right of individual union members to make up their own minds about this agreement. They are perfectly capable of doing so without any advice whatsoever from Sinn Féin.

The TUI has already voted against the agreement.

With regard to the issue of Garda discipline, the Government is not disciplining any member of the force. The matter of Garda discipline is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. It is not a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Government. Nor should it be a matter for political debate or interference. It is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

What is the Minister doing only interfering?

It should be left with the Garda Commissioner.

In respect of the issue of Garda vehicles, the Deputy is wrong again. The Government has spent an additional €9 million on the purchase of Garda vehicles.

On bicycles.

In respect of the effectiveness of the Garda Síochána, our gardaí do a superb job. The crime figures which will be made available later today will show there have been significant increases in the level of crime which is a testament to-----

Reduction.

Reduction is what I meant to say. This is a testament to-----

Emigration.

Fianna Fáil drove them out.

-----the commitment and the work of the Garda Síochána.

Finally, I welcome Sinn Féin's newfound support for the Garda Síochána.

Hear, hear.

Minus explosives.

The Tánaiste claims he respects the rights of trade union members to make their own determination on Croke Park II. That is just code for killing off any debate or criticism of this flawed agreement in this Chamber.

You are well able to kill off.

If the Tánaiste is so anxious and so committed to respecting the views of public sector workers, as well as their right to make a determination on the agreement and its cutbacks, how is it the Minister for Justice and Equality is so hell-bent on silencing members of the Garda Síochána, be they rank and file or sergeants, if they are critical of the strategy pursued by the Government? Of course, the particularities of any disciplinary issue with the Garda are a matter for the Commissioner. No one is contesting that. However, we have a real problem that the Government, in particular the Minister for Justice and Equality, is vindictive towards an Garda Síochána.

Thank you, Deputy.

All of the honeyed words about the good work these men and women do counts for nothing-----

A question, please.

-----if the Government is intent not alone on cutting their professional resources but also their means of providing for their families. To add insult to injury, the Government does not want them to open their mouths-----

Deputy, thank you. We are over time.

-----to raise criticism. That is simply wrong. Other public servants have set out clearly their opposition to this new programme of cutbacks under Croke Park II.

Deputy, thank you.

Gardaí are also entitled to defend their professional resources, as well as themselves and their families. Will the Tánaiste have a word with the Minister for Justice and Equality to diplomatically advise him that it is in no one's interests for him to pursue a vindictive position in respect of the gardaí who should not be silenced? Yes, they need to be disciplined.

Deputy, thank you.

They should not be silenced as citizens of this State, however.

When we talk about respect, I also ask Members to respect the Chair. When Members' time is called, would they please adhere to the rules? Just show respect for whoever is in the Chair.

First, with regard to Sinn Fein's comments on the Croke Park agreement, this is nothing new because Sinn Féin representatives were already out on the plinth denouncing, attacking and condemning the agreement even before it was published and before they had read it.

We stand over that.

Sinn Féin's position on the Croke Park agreement has nothing whatsoever to do with its contents or the people to whom it applies. It has all to do with political opportunism and whatever is good for it.

Second, the Minister for Justice and Equality is not silencing anyone.

What about the gagging order?

Be quiet, please.

The Minister for Justice and Equality and the Government are perfectly willing to listen and hear the points of view and the representations made to them by the Garda representative bodies, the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors. That is their right. Where we have a disciplined force, there must be a channel of communication on behalf of the members of the force and this is done through the representative bodies. From time to time there will be disagreement between them and the Minister. That happens in every area of activity and it is the job of the representative bodies to represent their members and to do so effectively. The issue of discipline in the Garda Síochána is not one for the Minister or the Government, it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

Did the Minister sanction it?

While we are on the subject of silencing gardaí, can Deputy Mary Lou McDonald tell me how many voices of gardaí were silenced permanently by her organisation?

There he goes. It is always the last resort. It is remarkable considering from where he has come.