The Minister for Justice has said the Garda response to riots in Dublin was "excellent" as she confirmed plans to review the supports available to gardaí dealing with public order incidents.
Helen McEntee has asked the Policing Authority to carry out the review, taking into account the growth of social media.
The Minister will also update her Cabinet colleagues on the Garda response to the rioting seen on O'Connell Street and other areas of the capital on Thursday.
There had been pressure on Ms McEntee to respond to safety issues in Dublin before disorder broke out last week, resulting in cars, buses and trams being burned and shops being damaged and looted.
Speaking on her way into Cabinet on Tuesday, she said there would be a “strong, visible Garda presence including a number of public order units that are and will continue to be on the ground during the Christmas period”.
She said she had been speaking to Garda members who responded to the incidents on Thursday, and said she wanted to make sure that they have “everything available to them” to respond in the future.
Ms McEntee said she had asked the Policing Authority to look at equipment and resources gardaí might need and to “provide clarity” on the use of force.
“I want them to have the confidence to respond in the way that they deem appropriate,” she said.
Ms McEntee said she was asking the Policing Authority to provide clarity so that gardaí do not feel that they are operating “with their hands behind their backs”.
“There were serious thugs and criminals who went out to not just cause disruption, but to harm people on Thursday night, and gardaí need to be able to respond with the appropriate force,” she said on Tuesday.
“It is important that when responding to these serious types of incidents that gardaí can use the force that they deem appropriate. It’s so important that we trust our members to respond in the way that they deem appropriate.
“I think their response on Thursday was excellent. I think the way in which they managed the situation was excellent.”
As part of the Government response, Ms McEntee has asked the Garda to expedite the purchase of body cams for use by gardaí.
The legislation to allow body cams is expected to pass all stages of the Oireachtas this week. Currently the equipment is scheduled for use by the middle of 2024, but the Government now wants earlier delivery.
Over the weekend, Ms McEntee instructed her officials to expand the scope of her facial recognition technology legislation to include riot and violent disorder. The draft facial recognition technology law, which the Minister has been working on, will be ready to be approved by the Government within weeks, according to The Irish Times.
She will argue that gardaí should not be required to trawl manually through 6,000 hours of CCTV associated with the riots.
The Garda Commissioner said his force were in a "constant battle" to combat disinformation on the night of the Dublin riots.
Meanwhile, a five-year-old girl who was stabbed in the knife attack which preceded the violence remains in an extremely serious condition in Temple Street Children’s Hospital. A school worker who received extensive injuries attempting to shield the children from the attacker also remains in a serious condition.
The only suspect in the attack, a 49-year-old man, is still being treated for serious head injuries he received while being restrained by members of the public who put a stop to the attack outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East.
He was placed in an induced coma following his hospitalisation and gardaí are awaiting medical clearance before interviewing him. This is not expected to happen for several more days.
Gardaí in Store Street have made an appeal to members of the public to get in touch if they have footage of the disorder. It is understood a large number of people have come forward already to help identify rioters or provide footage.
Investigators are also examining social media posts from various accounts to determine if they may have incited violence. This includes statements by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor who made several comments about the stabbing and subsequent violence.
Far-right figures who helped organise gatherings in the city centre are also being investigated. Several have since deleted social media posts potentially tying them to the riots. – Additional reporting: Press Association
