Thank you for allowing me raise this matter on the Adjournment. While I understand the Minister cannot be in the House this evening because of the major debate in which she is involved, I am disappointed one of her two Ministers of State have not come in to reply to this serious matter.
I do not have to tell the House the gardaí have given a splendid service to the State since its foundation, particularly in the Border area during the past 25 years. This year they have been given a new task in helping to prevent the spread of BSE. Since last March there have been permanent Garda checkpoints on main cross-Border roads. The work of the gardaí is difficult and while it is not possible to change their anti-social working hours it is possible to improve their physical working conditions.
Gardaí work eight hour shifts on Border duty, the crossings are manned on a 24 hour basis. I passed through one of those checkpoints last night, a frosty damp night. Our weather conditions differ somewhat from most other countries in the Northern Hemisphere where temperatures could be minus 20 degrees, but dry. If people dress in heavy clothing they do not feel cold in such conditions. In Ireland's damp weather conditions, however, irrespective of how one dresses one will feel cold. The gardaí are limited in the way they can dress for the weather.
We are not talking about the refurbishment of an old barracks to provide a proper working environment for gardaí on Border duty. These gardaí work out in the open when it is not necessary. While we all accept it is necessary from time to time for gardaí to carry out routine checks, the checks on the Border are carried out on a 24 hour basis. Will the Minister provide proper temporary accommodation for them? I hope these duties will not be permanent. When the Customs checkpoints were taken off the Border I hoped it would not be necessary to place any other type of checkpoint on the Border. Surely with modern technology it should be possible to provide a portakabin, with heating and a modern chemical toilet, for these gardaí. They do not require elaborate facilities. There is generally not much traffic on these roads late at night.
This matter should be dealt with urgently. Last night was a particularly cold night for a garda to have to stand at a checkpoint for eight hours. The matter should be dealt with in a matter of days rather than weeks, and modern technology should make that possible.
