Helen McEntee and Drew Harris invited to appear before Oireachtas Committee

ireland
Helen Mcentee And Drew Harris Invited To Appear Before Oireachtas Committee
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will be invited to the Oireachtas Justice Committee. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins
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Kenneth Fox

The Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice are set to be invited to appear before the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

Fianna Fáil TD and the chair of the committee, James Lawless, said he will invite Drew Harris and Helen McEntee to conduct a detailed analysis of the violence in Dublin on Thursday.

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The Kildare North TD said there must be zero-tolerance for repeat offenders as part of a wider law and order crackdown.

"I believe the events in Dublin of Thursday night were a perfect storm of far-right hate groups organising online but also of rogue gangs of local youths who have been menacing the city centre since Covid.

"While the issues here are complex, at least one of the solutions has to be resourcing the Gardaí including recruitment and retention issues, and proactively reclaiming the streets for ordinary, law aiding people.

"We need to get tough on city centre policing. Prosecutions, convictions and zero tolerance for repeat offenders must be part of a wider law and order crackdown.

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"Coordination on social media platforms must also be tackled with online orchestrators facing penalties as tough as those on the ground."

He said he welcomed the increased presence in the capital on Friday night, but that must become the norm, not the exception.

"We must also ensure no Garda is looking over their shoulder, at GSOC or anyone else, when a firm, but proportionate response is required.

"Red tape must be removed including rules preventing the progression of solid police officers into senior positions and enabling many more to pursue a career in the force," he said.

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