That was then; this is now. The increase in the crime figures has happened on the Government's watch.

Is it not natural, therefore, that there would be fewer gardaí?

The Leader should not go back into history. I am talking about what has happened in the past five years under the Government.

If one closes the Garda Training College in Templemore, how can one expect to have more gardaí? Let us be fair about it and look at the facts rather than dealing with extraneous issues.

It is a fact that there are 700 fewer gardaí.

That is because of the policies the Senator's party pursued in government-----

Last year there were 700 fewer gardaí.

-----which included closing the Garda Training College in Templemore and stopping recruitment. We have recruited 1,100 gardaí and will do a lot more in the coming years because we have rectified the economy.

However, it is still fragile.

Try telling that to people in my part of the country because they have not yet got the message. They are still waiting for the new Jerusalem under Fine Gael.

The Government will do everything possible on the issue of law and order.

That has to be the great cliche of the Government - "everything possible".

We will have more gardaí on the streets. We have introduced legislation to assist the Garda in its efforts to combat crime.

The Government did not do it this time and will hardly get a chance to do it the next time.