I will be opposing Senator Darragh O'Brien's amendment to the Order of Business regarding the blue flu protest threat by gardaí. The blue flu was not invented this week or last week. It is a legacy of a previous Administration.

That is right.

It is a legacy of a previous Administration which had gardaí scared witless in 2009. The blue flu took off then. I do not accuse the Senator of hypocrisy but it is hard to listen to him expressing concern for gardaí. When his party colleagues were in government they had the opportunity to negotiate with the Garda. The blue flu protest was the first time in the history of the State that Garda authorities, or anyone associated with the defence or justice systems-----

Senator, have you a question for the Leader?

I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister or Minister of State to come to the House to explain the situation regarding the Garda and the public service, in general.

The action of Fianna Fáil in tabling a motion about the threatened blue flu-----

It is not just about that.

It is about that.

Senator Harte, have you a question for the Leader?

My question is that the Minister would come in.

Can Senator Harte explain the fact that gardaí have no resources?

The blue flu protest of 2009 was the first time Garda authorities, under Fianna Fáil stewardship-----

What is Senator Harte's point?

The Government at that time was threatened by the Garda.