Fine Gael TD calls for junior minister for gardaí

As relations between the gardaí and Justice Minister Alan Shatter grow increasingly strained, a government TD has asked the Taoiseach to appoint a junior minister to the department, claiming Mr Shatter “doesn’t have the time to engage properly with gardaí”.

Fine Gael’s Tom Barry said: “I have written to both the Taoiseach and Minister Shatter asking that a junior justice minister be appointed who could liaise with the gardaí and see what resources are needed.”

The Cork East TD said there is a junior minister for defence for the 9,500-strong Defence Forces. But there is no junior minister for justice for more than 13,200 gardaí.