Barry Ward

I mean, sorry, you will never have a situation where you eliminate drug dealing or eliminate crime, much as we might all like to see that.

And we will do our level best to get towards that point.

But surely, Barry, you can eliminate open drug dealing in schools happening in daylight if you have a visibility of police.

Are you saying that...

I believe they do their level best to do that.

But there are not enough citizens in the state to stop every citizen from committing crime.

So let's be realistic about it.

What is important is... But Barry, shouldn't there be a point?

Just let me finish the point.

What is important is that citizens have confidence that when they call the guards, the guards react.

And that absolutely has to happen.

And where that isn't happening, we need to ensure that it does happen.

And I'll agree with you on that.

But I will not agree...

that anything is being tolerated or let's slide or anything like that.

I don't have that experience.

And I deal with Gardaí across the country professionally as well as in my political role.

They do not tolerate this stuff.

They will step in whenever they can.

But Rory, in fairness to you, like I agree with a lot of what you're saying, I want to see more high visibility policing because it convinces people that the guards are there and ready to act.