Ahern under fire over McDowell's pledge on 2,000 extra gardaí

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday refused to say if the Cabinet will back Justice Minister Michael McDowell's proposals to recruit an extra 2,000 gardaí.

Mr Ahern faced a barrage of criticism from Enda Kenny of Fine Gael and Pat Rabbitte of Labour during leaders' questions in the Dáil over the minister's announcement at the weekend that gave the impression that the gardaí, promised in the Programme for Government, would be recruited.

Mr Ahern defended his government's record on crime, saying it had increased resources to e1 billion this year to fight crime.