I would like to talk about An Garda Síochána. Following pressure from Fianna Fáil, there is increased funding of €81 million for Garda numbers in budget 2020, which will deliver up to 700 new Garda recruits. However, I need clarity about something that the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, announced earlier this year, namely, that 800 recruits would join the ranks at the Garda Training College in Templemore this year. However, the budget states that up to 700 are being recruited. The newspapers are calling it a U-turn and another broken promise, caught up in a web of spin and empty announcements.

On a point of order-----

I want clarification.

Sorry, Senator. I have to take a point of order.

On a point of order, it is 700 gardaí and the rest are civilian staff. If the Senator read the report-----

That is not a point of order. I must ask Senator Conway to resume his seat.

That is not a point of order.

If the Senator read the budget in detail, she would know it, bearing in mind that she and her party closed Templemore-----

Senator Conway is out of order. That is not a point of order.

The Minister, Deputy Flanagan-----

Does Senator Murnane O'Connor want me to keep going?

Is it not amazing how Fianna Fáil closed Templemore?

Fianna Fáil closed the college for five years. Not one garda was recruited for five years. Fianna Fáil closed Templemore. It was a disgrace.

I ask for one Senator to speak at a time. Senator Lawlor will get his turn.

Senator Murnane O'Connor should get her facts right.

Will Senators behave please?

The newspapers are calling this a U-turn and broken promise-----

That will not get the Senator elected in Carlow.

-----along with spin and empty announcements. I am giving the facts.

The fact is that Fianna Fáil closed Templemore.

Will Senator Murnane O'Connor address her remarks through the Chair please?

Did the Senator not sort this out before the budget with Deputy Michael McGrath and her Fianna Fáil colleagues?

There will be gardaí going to Carlow because we reopened Templemore.

I have risen here-----

Senator Lawlor is out of order.

-----to speak about the lack of resources for our gardaí.

They do not like the facts.

That does not matter. The Senators will get their turn.

The figure of 15,000 by 2021 was a key demand of Fianna Fáil, in a confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael, which has not been easy.

Who closed Templemore?

Is that speech from the third floor?

Please, Leader.

A boost in numbers would mean a better system. There are people the length and breadth of rural Ireland living in fear because there are not enough gardaí visible in our towns and villages. They want more gardaí.

Who wrote the script?

Every week, I receive complaints about Garda vetting and how people must be vetted for each sports club, educational facility or youth organisation. In one case, a man was vetted 18 times across various sports clubs. He was waiting weeks for authorisation to volunteer for a small club which needed his services because there was too much paperwork.

Is the Senator against vetting?

There should be one vetting per person which would carry through.

For how long?

There should be only one vetting for every activity, a kind of behaviour card, which would feature the Garda's vetting information. Shockingly, people are slipping through with devastating consequences. It is simply not working.

Does the Senator want more vetting now?

We cannot keep asking for more and more from our police force when we are not giving it the resources.

The Senator is in injury time.

The Minister was in the House last week and I spoke to him about resources.

The Minister agreed with me about resources.

The Senator is over time.

That was well read.

We need more resources for our gardaí.

I thank the Senator. She should resume her seat. She has made her point.

I also wish to note-----

The Senator has gone over time.

This is an amendment.

Order. We will hear the amendment.

Senators are being very unfair here. I am only speaking the truth.

Will the Senator move the amendment please?

I want to move an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 12 be taken before No. 1.

I thank the Senator and call Senator Marshall.

What is No. 12?

I will check that for the Leader.

Order. I call Senator Marshall to speak without interruption.