I wish to express the sympathies of the Select Committee on Enterprise and Small Business on the tragic and concerning incident which occurred in Tallaght Garda station at 5.30 a.m. today. As members may know, the injured garda, Sergeant Andrew Callanan, has died since the early news bulletins. It is only correct and proper that we pay tribute to Sergeant Callanan and the wider Garda force and congratulate them on the courageous manner in which they police the country. However, one must express concern that a garda was injured in his station in such a manner. It is of deep concern to us all. It is proper that we pay tribute to the Garda force at large and to Sergeant Callanan and express our sincere and deepest sympathy to his wife and family. I appreciate that the members of this committee include a former Minister for Justice and two local representatives who wish to comment.
Death of Garda Sergeant Callanan: Expressions of Sympathy.
I join with you in expressing our deepest sympathy to the family of the sergeant who was killed in such a brutal and appalling way. It is incredible that someone would walk into a Garda station, which people on all sorts of business can walk into safely, and carry out this dastardly act. We all woke to this shocking news this morning. I join with you in expressing our sympathy and outrage that this could happen in our country.
I also wish to join with you in those words of condolence. Along with some of my colleagues, I visited Tallaght Garda station this morning and spoke with the Deputy Garda Commissioner and the Assistant Commissioner. This is an appalling tragedy. The Garda station in question was specially designed to facilitate easy access. This is the last thing one would expect to happen in any civilised society at 5 o'clock in the morning. It is an appalling tragedy and I wish to convey, on my own behalf and on behalf of my party, our heartfelt sympathies to his family. He was the father of two year old twins and a five year old.
I was also in Tallaght this morning to meet the Deputy Garda Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party in the Tallaght area, I express our deepest sympathies to the family, relatives and colleagues of Sergeant Callanan. He was very involved in the community, where he served for a long number of years. He was very well liked and a respected member of the force. It is a deep tragedy that this should happen in a station which, as Deputy Rabbitte said, prides itself on its accessibility. I hope the wrong message does not go out from this incident that we must put up barriers around our Garda stations to protect the unfortunate members of the force who must sometimes work in terrible and daunting conditions. I convey again my sympathy to his family, relatives and, in particular, work colleagues, some of whom, when I met them this morning, were numb with shock at what had happened.
On behalf of the Government, I express our deepest sympathy to Sergeant Callanan's family, the Garda Síochána and the Commissioner on this desperate, tragic incident. Tallaght Garda station is one of the most modern stations in the country. It has an outstanding force and it symbolises everything that is good about a modern police force. It is so sad that the station and, more particularly, the man in charge should be the victim of this desperate deed in the middle of the night. We resolve to ensure that the support required by the Garda will always be available to them. We pay tribute to them. Ar dheis láimh Dé go raibh anam an sáirsint uasal seo.
Members will note there is a large number of amendments to the Bill. I have spoken to a number of the spokesmen and the Minister of State. It is now 11.50 a.m. I suggest we move as quickly as possible through the amendments and see how we are proceeding as we approach lunchtime.
May I give notice to the Minister of State that I tabled a brief last minute amendment this morning which, with your permission, I will circulate?
I will do my best to co-operate with the desires of the chairman and the committee.