Garda staffing and policing debate
The Leader defends the Government’s reopening of Templemore and planned Garda recruitment, acknowledges the need for greater policing resources, and points Senators to the Justice Committee’s recent evidence from the Garda Commissioner.
-----but I take on board the point-----
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The private sector does not have leave of absence. If it did, companies would not function effectively.
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Does the Senator want to answer his colleague?
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I am giving the Leader a bit of advice about the private sector.
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I thought he did. I remind the Senator that there has been a significant decrease in the number of gardaí in the last number of years. If the training college is closed down and there are no gardaí coming on board, obviously that is what will happen. That is what his Government did. This Government has reopened Templemore. We have 550-----
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I was talking about an issue that has been there-----
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-----and will be there for some time to come. Leave of absence is an entitlement of gardaí, nurses and teachers.
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I agree with the Senator that there is a need for greater Garda presence and greater Garda numbers.
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That is exactly what the Government is doing and intends to do-----
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Retired gardaí can be used as substitutes for those who are on leave of absence.
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-----in order to combat crime whether in urban or rural areas.
Senator Bacik called for a debate on policing and mentioned that the Garda Commissioner was before the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality yesterday for a number of hours. A number of the points that have been raised in this House were actually made at that meeting. I suggest that Members look at the minutes of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. They may get answers to a number of questions that have been posed.
Senator Bacik raised the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill. I understand that we will probably have it in this House in the next few weeks. The Government is drafting quite a number of amendments to the Bill and I hope to have it through this House by Christmas. I am not saying that will happen but I am hopeful that it will.
Senator Bacik is attending a conference on gender equality in the Abbey Theatre today. There are a number of others who I would like to send to it. They would be well qualified judging by their appearances here in this House.