I join with Senator Wall in calling for the speedy progress of the Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017 through this House. It was introduced here in 2017 by then Senator Keith Swanick and was reintroduced into the House with the permission of the Cathaoirleach when he was Leader two years ago. We got it to Report Stage and it has been with the Department for over a year now. I ask that it be brought back into this House so we can send it to the Dáil and get it into law as a matter of urgency. This is very important legislation that would introduce specific penalties for people who damage life-saving equipment such as defibrillators, lifebuoys etc. We need to do that as a matter of urgency. I ask the Deputy Leader to please use her good offices to ensure that happens.

I also support Senator McDowell's call for a debate on the Garda Reserve. This is a very important resource. It has the capability to assist the Garda in carrying out its duties. These are volunteers who are willing to assist An Garda Síochána in its duties and leave full-time officers to do other things. This is an idea I had many years ago. I brought it up at a meeting of Cavan County Council in 1999. Subsequent to me doing that the Minister for Justice at the time, the now Senator McDowell, brought in legislation that enabled it to go forward. Some years later, I had a conversation with Senator McDowell and enlightened him on the fact that I raised this in 1999 at Cavan County Council. He said that he was not accustomed to reading the minutes of Cavan County Council meetings and that basically, I had nothing to do with the fact that was brought in. That is in jest. I congratulate him on doing so.

Thank you, Senator.

If the Garda Reserve was properly enforced and enabled, it would be a huge resource the State could do with at this moment in time.