I wish to bring to the Leader's attention my concern at the alarming number of increased assaults on members of An Garda Síochána. Assaults on gardaí have almost doubled in the past five years, which is a frightening statistic. Only yesterday, three members of An Garda Síochána were hospitalised in Portlaoise regional hospital after the patrol vehicle they were driving was rammed by a stolen 4x4 with three occupants on board. The three men were subsequently arrested after failing to stop. It was part of a Garda operation on rural crime in the midlands. It highlights again the dangerous job that members of An Garda Síochána do on behalf of us all on a daily basis. What disappoints me is the fact that is happening at a time when conditions for new recruits from a pay perspective are very low. I am afraid on two fronts.

The first is we might struggle to get young people to join the Garda. The second is that talks have broken down between the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and the Department on relevant and genuine issues gardaí are raising. I implore the Leader to ask the Minister to get those negotiations going again. Gardaí do a very good job on behalf of all of us and put their lives at risk on a daily basis for our benefit.

Another issue that concerns me relates to comments I read in the media this morning on the meeting between the Taoiseach and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. If we can believe reports coming from the meeting, we should be concerned. I understand the Taoiseach went over to bat for Ireland's specific and special case relating to the Brexit vote, but he seemed to be slapped down in that regard by Dr. Merkel. I find that very disappointing. We must stand up to the European Union on the issue because Ireland is a unique and special case and different from other countries in Europe as it is the only one with a land border with the United Kingdom. Chancellor Merkel and the rest of Europe must wake up to the fact that Ireland is a special case.