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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Brexit and police warning

Summary

Senator Wilson endorsed the Brexit comments and the call for a Finucane public inquiry. He then moved to road safety, urging a new RSA campaign for hazardous conditions like fog, while a short exchange with Norris and Leyden followed.

I wish to fully endorse the comments of Senator Marshall regarding Brexit. I do not think that any right-thinking person on this island could disagree with one word of what he said. I also join Senators Conway-Walsh, Norris and Leyden in welcoming the decision of the Supreme Court in London on the Finucane case. The court found that no satisfactory inquiry was held into the murder of Pat Finucane in front of his wife and children in 1989. I reiterate my party's support for a public inquiry into that murder.

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This morning on my way here from Cavan I drove through very severe fog for most of my journey. I was astonished at the number of cars that had no lights on, not to mention fog lights, in what were very treacherous driving conditions. I call on the Road Safety Authority, RSA, which has conducted very successful road safety campaigns on speed, tiredness and drink driving, to also devise a campaign on driving in very hazardous conditions such as fog, ice and snow. The RSA campaigns have proved to be very successful. I was astonished at the number of people who were driving without even their normal lights on this morning.

I wish to raise a related issue in terms of traffic and An Garda Síochána. Since the foundation of the force in 1922, bar a few glitches, An Garda Síochána has served the community of the Twenty-six Counties on this island with distinction. However, I have noticed recently that the word "Garda" is being dropped from a number of areas. We have the Policing Authority, reports on the future of policing and, most recently, I noticed that newer Garda cars do not carry the "Garda Traffic Corps" mark, which is a well respected brand throughout the length and breadth of the Twenty-six Counties, but have "Traffic Policing" on them. I am concerned that there is an attempt to denude the brand of An Garda Síochána. I am highlighting this because it would be a pity to do so. Since 1922 An Garda Síochána has guarded the peace and safety of our citizens. It could become known as the police but I do not want to see that happening. I hope that this is not as a result of the new Garda Commissioner coming from a police state.

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David P.B. Norris Senator David Norris Independent

That is rubbish.

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It is not rubbish.

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Senator Norris is entitled to be wrong.

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