Every day, on my way home from work, I pass by the Four Courts on the south side of the River Liffey. Every day, dozens of people are openly dealing in drugs and taking drugs. People are slumped on the pathway just feet from passing traffic. It is a human disaster. If I see this every day, the gardaí see it every day. Why do they tolerate it? In Meath, I talk to people who are being crucified by crime and antisocial behaviour that is happening every single night. If it is happening every night, the gardaí know about it. Why are they tolerating it? I spoke to a taxi driver recently who told me of a drug dealer where people drive up, get their drugs and go home. It is a drive-through drug location. If he knows about it, the gardaí know about it. Why are the gardaí tolerating this type of crime happening on a regular basis? Is it because of the lack of resources, the lack of morale or poor management?

Gardaí do not tolerate it. I would respectfully say-----

They do. They see it every day.

I do not believe they do at all. The gardaí do very strong work in terms of the whole issue pertaining to drug abuse and the trafficking of drugs.

Drive down to the Four Courts any day.

In fact, we have increased resources and we will continue to increase resources. There are now record numbers applying for An Garda Síochána. Events like last night take gardaí away from the front-line and where they would ordinarily be. There were so many gardaí there last evening to protect people, and those kinds of events draw from our capacity. In the general, normal work of An Garda Síochána, gardaí are very focused on this issue. Unfortunately, there are too many consumers of drugs in modern society and too many people take it as being habitual. There is severe addiction, which has to be dealt with through a healthcare response, with which I am sure the Deputy would agree. I would not be undermining the Garda response all the time.

Go down to the Four Courts any day, Taoiseach.