FF and SF clash over cuts to force

There were bitter exchanges between the two opposition parties when Fianna Fáil responded to Sinn Féin’s accusations over Garda cuts by making references to the IRA killing 17 years ago of Detective Jerry McCabe.

During leaders’ questions in the Dáil, Sinn Féin deputy leader, Mary Lou McDonald, criticised the closure of garda stations and cuts in numbers in the force.

“Fianna Fáil negotiated with the troika. At the time Fianna Fáil agreed with the troika to cut Garda numbers from 14,500 to 13,500 in 2011 and to 13,000 by 2014 — a total drop of 10%.”

But Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman, Niall Collins, who represents the Limerick constituency which includes Adare, where Jerry McCabe was shot dead, hit back at Sinn Féin saying: “You’ve got your own way of reducing Garda numbers.”

The sharp exchanges took place as Social Protection Minister Joan Burton defended the closure this week of almost 100 stations.

“At the end of this process, we will have more than 560 Garda stations, which is significantly more per capita than in Scotland or Wales,” she said.

Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea asked if the Government was going to “ignore and dismiss all the concerns of communities throughout the country” by proceeding with the closures.

Ms McDonald said the closures were “a blow to communities” and asked what assurances the minister could offer people about their safety.

Ms Burton said that, in the North, where Sinn Féin is sharing power, 40% of police stations have closed.

“Sinn Féin agrees with closing stations in the North,” she said and was followed by heckles by Fine Gael’s David Stanton who added: “The ones they did not blow up.”

Ms McDonald then asked if the Government “decided to continue with the implementation of Fianna Fáil’s so-called national recovery plan from 2010 making further cuts.”

Mr O’Dea said his party “will have to apologise in 17 year’s time,” referring to the apology from Sinn Féin this week for the killing of Garda McCabe.

Ms McDonald then accused Mr Collins of calling for the removalfrom the force of the then president of the Garda Representative Association, Michael O’Boyce, when he criticised the reduction in Garda numbers in 2010.

Mr Collins hit back asking: “How would you have removed him?”

He was joined by Mr O’Dea — also a Limerick TD, who said: “You removed Jerry McCabe.”

As the spat continued between opposition parties, Fine Gael’s Simon Harris looked on from the Government benches and commented: “We’ll leave now and opposition members can debate among themselves.”

2500 off duty uniformed Gardai line up outside the funeral of murdered Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. RIP. pic.twitter.com/kobBej2f

— Ben Sweeney (@BenSweeneyF1) January 30, 2013