Kildare "completely" under-resourced when it comes to Garda numbers says Kildare Senator
Senator Fiona O'Loughlin also said that the Minister of Justice should be in Westport at the Garda Representative Association (GRA) Conference.
Kildare Senator Fiona O'Loughlin has said the county is "completely" under-resourced when it comes to Garda numbers.
Senator O'Loughlin also said that the Minister of Justice should be in Westport at the Garda Representative Association (GRA) Conference.
Speaking in the Seanad yesterday, Senator O'Loughlin said, "As we are aware, the GRA conference is taking place in Westport as we speak. The theme for this year is 'it's a job worth protecting,' and we all agree that it is.
"To paraphrase an old saying, 'who is protecting our protectors,' I listened this morning to John Joe O`Connell, the GRA's Kildare representative. He was speaking about the issues the conference will be discussing, such as training, better protective gear and measures and long service increments, and I could not help but agree with him.
"We need our Gardai to keep us safe and secure, we need them patrolling our streets and roads, and we have to support them. We live in challenging times, and every shift that a Garda starts they have no idea what is facing them.
"Again, this morning, I tried to put in a commencement about Garda matters in Kildare and was basically told that the Minister has no responsibility in long term plans to support effective policing. I am saying now that Kildare is completely under-resourced when it comes to Garda numbers.
"I am saying now that the Garda Commissioner was completely wrong in what he said and how he handled the infamous Garda bicycle situation, and I am saying now that the Minister should be in Westport engaging with the Gardaí, those who we rely on and who she relies on to protect her."