Is the Tánaiste in favour of the new Garda roster that has been proposed in which they are looking for members of the Garda to work seven days on-two days off, seven days on-three days off and then six days on-three days off, after which they return to the seven-day cycle again? I met Garda representatives during the week who said that no one will be joining the force after 87 resigned their position recently, with only 23 gardaí having been reintroduced. The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA, and the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, met last Tuesday to discuss the rising number of assaults on farmers, due to lurchers. They want to know if the Tánaiste is in favour of the new roster, a roster that will stop people joining the force? They want young people to join and not have the current number of people who are resigning due to this roster.

I have read about it in the news but I am not familiar with the detail of the rosters.

Is the Tánaiste in support of it?

I cannot say whether I am in favour of it. It is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, of course, and he will negotiate with the representative bodies on that. The most important thing is that gardaí are rostered for when we need them. They are there to serve the public. They must be rostered for when we need them most. That is my position but I also acknowledge that we must make sure it provides an attractive career. The same thing often applies in health care. People say that doctors and nurses should work 24-7, every weekend. You will not recruit any doctors or nurses if you expect that. Therefore, we must get the balance right.