Dáil vote · 25 March 2026

An Garda Síochána: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

Amendment put

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What this vote means

Policy motion · Amendment

This is a vote on an amendment. Tá and Níl refer to that amendment, rather than the whole Bill or motion. Check whether it proposes adding, removing or replacing words.

A policy motion expresses the House's position or calls for action. It does not itself change the law or legally require the Government to carry out the policy requested.

The exact wording is not supplied in this division record. Check the official debate.

Tá means yes and Níl means no to the exact question put. The vote alone does not establish a TD's full position or reasons.

DáilDex interpretation of the official wording.

Oireachtas definitions

The result

Carried

Tá (yes): 79
Níl (no): 69
Staon (abstain): 0

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Alan Kelly and Conor Sheehan.

Official record Read the debate

How each party voted

Party	Tá	Níl	Staon	No vote	Most voted
Fianna Fáil	42	–	–	6	Tá
Sinn Féin	–	38	–	1	Níl
Fine Gael	29	–	–	8	Tá
Independent	8	3	–	4	No whip
Labour Party	–	10	–	1	Níl
Social Democrats	–	9	–	2	Níl
Independent Ireland	–	3	–	1	Níl
People Before Profit-Solidarity	–	3	–	–

How every TD voted

Showing 172 of 172 TDs

Aengus Ó SnodaighSinn Féin · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Aidan FarrellySocial Democrats · Kildare North
No vote
Aindrias MoynihanFianna Fáil · Cork North-West
Tá
Aisling DempseyFianna Fáil · Meath West
Tá
Alan DillonFine Gael · Mayo
Tá
Alan KellyLabour Party · Tipperary North
Níl
Albert DolanFianna Fáil · Galway East
Tá
Ann GravesSinn Féin · Dublin Fingal East
Níl
Barry HeneghanIndependent · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Barry WardFine Gael · Dún Laoghaire
Tá
Brendan SmithFianna Fáil · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Brian BrennanFine Gael · Wicklow-Wexford
Tá
Brian StanleyIndependent · Laois
Níl
Carol NolanIndependent · Offaly
Níl
Cathal CroweFianna Fáil · Clare
Tá
Catherine ArdaghFianna Fáil · Dublin South-Central
Tá
Catherine CallaghanFine Gael · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Cathy BennettSinn Féin · Cavan-Monaghan
Níl
Charles Ward100% RDR · Donegal
No vote
Charlie McConalogueFianna Fáil · Donegal
Tá
Christopher O'SullivanFianna Fáil · Cork South-West
Tá
Cian O'CallaghanSocial Democrats · Dublin Bay North
Níl
Ciarán AhernLabour Party · Dublin South-West
Níl
Claire KerraneSinn Féin · Roscommon-Galway
Níl
Colm BrophyFine Gael · Dublin South-West
Tá
Colm BurkeFine Gael · Cork North-Central
Tá
Conor D. McGuinnessSinn Féin · Waterford
Níl
Conor SheehanLabour Party · Limerick City
Níl
Cormac DevlinFianna Fáil · Dún Laoghaire
Tá
Danny Healy-RaeIndependent · Kerry
No vote
Dara CallearyFianna Fáil · Mayo
Tá
Darragh O'BrienFianna Fáil · Dublin Fingal East
Tá
Darren O'RourkeSinn Féin · Meath East
Níl
David CullinaneSinn Féin · Waterford
Níl
David MaxwellFine Gael · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Denise MitchellSinn Féin · Dublin Bay North
Níl
Dessie EllisSinn Féin · Dublin North-West
No vote
Donna McGettiganSinn Féin · Clare
Níl
Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireSinn Féin · Cork South-Central
Níl
Duncan SmithLabour Party · Dublin Fingal East
No vote
Eamon ScanlonFianna Fáil · Sligo-Leitrim
Tá
Edward TimminsFine Gael · Wicklow
Tá
Emer CurrieFine Gael · Dublin West
Tá
Emer HigginsFine Gael · Dublin Mid-West
Tá
Eoghan KennyLabour Party · Cork North-Central
Níl
Eoin HayesSocial Democrats · Dublin Bay South
Níl
Eoin Ó BroinSinn Féin · Dublin Mid-West
Níl
Erin McGreehanFianna Fáil · Louth
Tá
Fionntán Ó SúilleabháinSinn Féin · Wicklow-Wexford
Níl
Frankie FeighanFine Gael · Sligo-Leitrim
Tá
Gary GannonSocial Democrats · Dublin Central
Níl
Ged NashLabour Party · Louth
Níl
George LawlorLabour Party · Wexford
Níl
Gillian TooleIndependent · Meath East
Tá
Grace BolandFine Gael · Dublin Fingal West
Tá
Helen McEnteeFine Gael · Meath East
Tá
Hildegarde NaughtonFine Gael · Galway West
Tá
Holly CairnsSocial Democrats · Cork South-West
No vote
Ivana BacikLabour Party · Dublin Bay South
Níl
Jack ChambersFianna Fáil · Dublin West
No vote
James BrowneFianna Fáil · Wexford
Tá
James GeogheganFine Gael · Dublin Bay South
No vote
James LawlessFianna Fáil · Kildare North
Tá
James O'ConnorFianna Fáil · Cork East
No vote
Jen CumminsSocial Democrats · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Jennifer Carroll MacNeillFine Gael · Dún Laoghaire
No vote
Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Jennifer WhitmoreSocial Democrats · Wicklow
Níl
Jerry ButtimerFine Gael · Cork South-Central
Tá
Jim O'CallaghanFianna Fáil · Dublin Bay South
Tá
Joanna ByrneSinn Féin · Louth
Níl
Joe CooneyFine Gael · Clare
Tá
Joe NevilleFine Gael · Kildare North
Tá
John BradySinn Féin · Wicklow
Níl
John ClendennenFine Gael · Offaly
No vote
John ConnollyFianna Fáil · Galway West
Tá
John CumminsFine Gael · Waterford
No vote
John LahartFianna Fáil · Dublin South-West
Tá
John McGuinnessFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
No vote
John Paul O'SheaFine Gael · Cork North-West
Tá
Johnny GuirkeSinn Féin · Meath West
Níl
Johnny MythenSinn Féin · Wexford
Níl
Keira KeoghFine Gael · Mayo
Tá
Ken O'FlynnIndependent Ireland · Cork North-Central
Níl
Kevin Boxer MoranIndependent · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Kieran O'DonnellFine Gael · Limerick City
Tá
Liam QuaideSocial Democrats · Cork East
Níl
Louis O'HaraSinn Féin · Galway East
Níl
Louise O'ReillySinn Féin · Dublin Fingal West
Níl
Maeve O'ConnellFine Gael · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Máire DevineSinn Féin · Dublin South-Central
Níl
Mairéad FarrellSinn Féin · Galway West
Níl
Malcolm ByrneFianna Fáil · Wicklow-Wexford
Tá
Marian HarkinIndependent · Sligo-Leitrim
Tá
Marie SherlockLabour Party · Dublin Central
Níl
Mark WallLabour Party · Kildare South
Níl
Mark WardSinn Féin · Dublin Mid-West
Níl
Martin DalyFianna Fáil · Roscommon-Galway
Tá
Martin HeydonFine Gael · Kildare South
Tá
Martin KennySinn Féin · Sligo-Leitrim
Níl
Mary ButlerFianna Fáil · Waterford
Tá
Mary Lou McDonaldSinn Féin · Dublin Central
Níl
Matt CarthySinn Féin · Cavan-Monaghan
Níl
Mattie McGrathIndependent · Tipperary South
No vote
Maurice QuinlivanSinn Féin · Limerick City
Níl
Michael CahillFianna Fáil · Kerry
Tá
Michael CollinsIndependent Ireland · Cork South-West
Níl
Michael FitzmauriceIndependent Ireland · Roscommon-Galway
Níl
Michael Healy-RaeIndependent · Kerry
Tá
Michael LowryIndependent · Tipperary North
Tá
Michael MoynihanFianna Fáil · Cork North-West
Tá
Michael MurphyFine Gael · Tipperary South
Tá
Micheál CarrigyFine Gael · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Micheál MartinFianna Fáil · Cork South-Central
No vote
Naoise Ó CearúilFianna Fáil · Kildare North
Tá
Naoise Ó MuiríFine Gael · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Natasha Newsome DrennanSinn Féin · Carlow-Kilkenny
Níl
Neale RichmondFine Gael · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Niall CollinsFianna Fáil · Limerick County
Tá
Niamh SmythFianna Fáil · Cavan-Monaghan
Tá
Noel GrealishIndependent · Galway West
Tá
Noel McCarthyFine Gael · Cork East
Tá
Norma FoleyFianna Fáil · Kerry
Tá
Pa DalySinn Féin · Kerry
Níl
Pádraig Mac LochlainnSinn Féin · Donegal
Níl
Pádraig O'SullivanFianna Fáil · Cork North-Central
No vote
Pádraig RiceSocial Democrats · Cork South-Central
Níl
Pat BuckleySinn Féin · Cork East
Níl
Pat the Cope GallagherFianna Fáil · Donegal
Tá
Patrick O'DonovanFine Gael · Limerick County
No vote
Paul DonnellySinn Féin · Dublin West
Níl
Paul LawlessAontú · Mayo
Níl
Paul McAuliffeFianna Fáil · Dublin North-West
Tá
Paul MurphyPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dublin South-West
Níl
Paul Nicholas GogartyIndependent · Dublin Mid-West
Níl
Paula ButterlyFine Gael · Louth
No vote
Peadar TóibínAontú · Meath West
Níl
Pearse DohertySinn Féin · Donegal
Níl
Peter 'Chap' CleereFianna Fáil · Carlow-Kilkenny
Tá
Peter BurkeFine Gael · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Peter RocheFine Gael · Galway East
No vote
Réada CroninSinn Féin · Kildare North
Níl
Richard Boyd BarrettPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dún Laoghaire
Níl
Richard O'DonoghueIndependent Ireland · Limerick County
No vote
Robert O'DonoghueLabour Party · Dublin Fingal West
Níl
Robert TroyFianna Fáil · Longford-Westmeath
Tá
Roderic O'GormanGreen Party · Dublin West
Níl
Rory HearneSocial Democrats · Dublin North-West
Níl
Rose Conway-WalshSinn Féin · Mayo
Níl
Ruairí Ó MurchúSinn Féin · Louth
Níl
Ruth CoppingerPeople Before Profit-Solidarity · Dublin West
Níl
Ryan O'MearaFianna Fáil · Tipperary North
Tá
Seamus HealyIndependent · Tipperary South
No vote
Séamus McGrathFianna Fáil · Cork South-Central
Tá
Seán CanneyIndependent · Galway East
Tá
Seán CroweSinn Féin · Dublin South-West
Níl
Sean FlemingFianna Fáil · Laois
Tá
Seán Ó FearghaílFianna Fáil · Kildare South
Tá
Shane MoynihanFianna Fáil · Dublin Mid-West
Tá
Shay BrennanFianna Fáil · Dublin Rathdown
Tá
Shónagh Ní RaghallaighSinn Féin · Kildare South
Níl
Simon HarrisFine Gael · Wicklow
No vote
Sinéad GibneySocial Democrats · Dublin Rathdown
Níl
Sorca ClarkeSinn Féin · Longford-Westmeath
Níl
Thomas ByrneFianna Fáil · Meath East
Tá
Thomas GouldSinn Féin · Cork North-Central
Níl
Timmy DooleyFianna Fáil · Clare
No vote
Tom BrabazonFianna Fáil · Dublin Bay North
Tá
Tony McCormackFianna Fáil · Offaly
Tá
Verona MurphyIndependent · Wexford
No vote
William AirdFine Gael · Laois
Tá
Willie O'DeaFianna Fáil · Limerick City
Tá

The full text TDs voted on

This vote decided amendment No. 1. It deletes the motion's wording and puts its own text in its place. Tá supported replacing the original text; Níl opposed replacing it. Neither is a vote on the original motion by itself.

A motion can bundle several proposals together. Tá or Níl applies to the whole question put, so a TD may agree with one part and still vote against it because of another. Read the full wording, and the debate where TDs gave their reasons, before treating this vote as a position on any single point.

The motion as movedMoved by Deputy Alan Kelly on Wednesday, 25 March 2026

That Dáil Éireann:
notes that:
— there are still fewer serving members of An Garda Síochána in 2026, compared to six years ago, with 14,187 available members at the end of January 2026, in contrast to 14,235 members in 2020;
— accounting for population growth, this fall in numbers means that there are now 10 per cent fewer Gardaí per capita than there were five years ago;
— the Programme for Government committed to recruiting at least 5,000 new Garda recruits and additional Garda staff by 2030;
— trainee intakes remain far too low to achieve adequate policing levels, with just 619 Gardaí attesting from Templemore in 2025;
— during 2025, 29 per cent of Garda Divisions, and 46 per cent of Garda Districts, either lost Garda members or saw no change in numbers;
— the numbers of Gardaí unavailable due to suspension has rapidly increased in recent years, with 107 Gardaí suspended at the end of 2025, versus just 39 in December 2018;
— over 2025, the number of Community Gardaí fell from 700 to 615; and
— there were just 308 Garda Reserve members as of 31st January, 2026, down from 1,164 in 2013;
recognises that:
— over a year since the formation of the new Government, no new plan has been put in place to increase Garda recruitment and expand the size of the force, in line with public commitments;
— morale within the force was severely damaged under the tenure of the previous Garda Commissioner, with the high-profile mistreatment of serving members, and a steady trend of Gardaí leaving the force or retiring early;
— serious questions remain about the conduct of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and senior Garda leadership towards serving members in the Limerick region, and in the Garda bike loan case;
— further serious questions remain unanswered about the procurement and use of inappropriate gun holsters, and the storage of firearms, live scan fingerprints, drugs and cash at Garda Headquarters; and
— the Government failed to declare, over seven years, that the previous Garda Commissioner was provided with rent free accommodation through the Office of Public Works, that underwent €400,000 worth of renovations before being made available in 2018;
further notes that:
— the then Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications in May 2024, and stated that an additional 150 Gardaí would be allocated to Roads Policing over 2024 and 2025;
— on 31st December, 2023, there were 632 Gardaí allocated to Roads Policing, while on 31st December, 2025, there were 647 Gardaí allocated to Roads Policing, an increase of just 15 members, or 10 per cent of the Commissioner's stated aim;
— 40 per cent of the Garda vehicles fleet is over six years old;
— significant concerns have been raised regarding the impact of the new Garda Operating Model (GOM) implemented from 2019 onwards, which breaks the link between Gardaí and local communities, in particular in rural areas;
— in response to an Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors survey in 2025, 90 per cent of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors indicated that high visibility policing has not increased since the introduction of the GOM, and that the GOM is "unsuitable for rural policing", while 98 per cent of respondents called for an urgent review of the GOM; and
— the Policing and Community Safety Authority assessment of An Garda Síochána's policing performance throughout the first half of 2025, found that 11 of 18 performance indicators were "at risk";
acknowledges:
— the crucial role played by An Garda Síochána in protecting and serving communities across Ireland;
— the critical importance of a locally embedded, well-resourced, modern police service, in enabling communities to flourish;
— the crisis of low morale that has been allowed to develop among rank-and-file Gardaí under successive governments, due to consistent under-resourcing and a failing operational policing model, and the impact that crisis has on the ability of An Garda Síochána to perform its critical functions; and
— that selective internal investigations within An Garda Síochána have been weaponised against members of the force who raise legitimate concerns, submit protected disclosures or act as whistleblowers;
calls on the Government to initiate a public inquiry into the conduct of internal Garda investigations during, and subsequent to, the tenure of the former Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris; and
in order to address recruitment shortfalls, improve morale, and strengthen policing in Ireland, further calls on the Government to:
— urgently publish a funded plan to ensure at least 1,000 new Gardaí are trained every year;
— review the current GOM, and where it is not consistent with effective rural and community policing, to halt its implementation;
— enhance the community policing model to standardise rostering in line with other Gardaí, introduce appropriate promotional opportunities, and increase the use of pedal cycles in urban community policing;
— increase the Garda training allowance to the equivalent of a starting salary, and review pay and pension issues for serving staff;
— provide each Garda District and the communities living there with a clear timeline of when increased numbers of Gardaí will be deployed to address safety concerns and anti-social behaviour, and roll out domestic abuse coordination teams across every region;
— commit to a measurable plan to increase roads policing, and invest in the vehicle fleet and Garda equipment;
— invest in expanding Templemore Training College and the Garda lands and facilities at Dromard, Clonmore, to ensure at least 1,000 new recruits are trained per year; and
— introduce an occupational supplementary pension to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, as a key retention measure for uniformed service personnel.

Amendment No. 1Decided in this voteMoved by Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:
"recognises:
— the crucial role played by An Garda Síochána in ensuring the security of the State, protecting and serving communities across Ireland through the maintenance of law and order, and upholding the principles of justice;
— the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, in April 2025, providing an extensive new framework for policing and community safety in Ireland, and the subsequent establishment of new bodies critical to the governance and delivery of policing services by An Garda Síochána;
— that Central Statistics Office data shows a decrease in the majority of offence groups in the year to September 2025, the latest period for which data is available;
— that, in particular, homicide and related offences fell by 25 per cent, reflecting, in particular, the significant success of An Garda Síochána in combatting organised crime groups;
— that robbery, extortion and hijacking offences fell by 13 per cent in the same period;
— that burglary and related offences fell by 12 per cent, reflecting the continued evidence-based success of Operation Thor by An Garda Síochána;
— the critical importance of a visible, locally embedded, well-resourced, modern police service in building stronger, safer communities, supporting community wellbeing and enabling them to flourish;
— that, through the promotion of crime prevention and visible policing, An Garda Síochána foster a sense of security, especially among the most vulnerable in our society;
— that our communities rely on the Gardaí to respond to emergency calls, patrol our neighbourhoods, prevent, detect and investigate crimes;
— that An Garda Síochána play an important role in the recently established Community Safety Partnerships, 35 of which are established and operational around the country;
— that overall funding for An Garda Síochána has increased by almost 50 per cent since 2020, with investment of over €2.74 billion for 2026;
— that through successive budget increases the Government has ensured that An Garda Síochána has the resources, leadership and technology to deliver on its mission;

Wording as published in the official Dáil record, unedited. Read the debate