A“hands-off” approach to policing by the Government as led to the “incomprehensible” situation where gardaí are poised to strike, TDs have been told.
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty told the Dáil that the Coalition, singling out Fine Gael in particular, had pursued a “soft-touch” approach to policing and crime.
Mr Doherty said the Gardaí is in “crisis”, as morale within the ranks is at an all-time low.
He made the claims during exchanges with Tánaiste Micheál Martin during Leaders’ Questions on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, under your watch Tánaiste, and particularly under Fine Gael’s watch, morale in the Gardaí is at an all-time low,” Mr Doherty said.
“Garda numbers are falling as gardaí leave the force, we see that year after year.
“Targets for new recruits are missed time and time again as people don’t see a career in the Gardaí as an option worth pursuing anymore, and specialised units are being disbanded.”
Mr Doherty added: “After 12 years of Fine Gael justice minister after justice minister, the gardaí are in crisis and the communities are less safe than ever.
“So Fine Gael’s soft-touch approach to policing has pushed the Gardáí to breaking point and ordinary communities are forced to pay the price of government failure. It is a crisis, and we don’t need any more vague promises from Government or more photo ops or glossy announcements that amounted to nothing.
“Government needs to get to grips with crime and they need to do it now.”
Mr Doherty said it was time that Minister for Justice Helen McEntee intervened to avert the threatened action by gardaí in October and November amid their dispute with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris over rosters.
“The hands-off approach by the Minister for Justice is not working,” he added.
“It is incomprehensible that she would allow this to get to the stage where the gardaí have to go on strike.
“When will the Government end the scandal of their soft-touch approach to policing so that communities can feel safe and protected?”
In response, Mr Martin said the record drugs haul seized by authorities this week was evidence there was no soft touch on crime.
He also highlighted that €2 billion have been allocated to the Gardaí this year.
“The issue around the Garda roster, which was introduced by the Commissioner, is clearly an issue that has caused considerable unrest and concern within the ranks of An Garda Síochana,” he said.
The Tánaiste added: “In my view, these issues are best resolved within the industrial relations mechanisms and that’s where they should be resolved, because it is understood that there are concerns and legitimate genuine concerns, but the way to resolve it, with respect to the Minister for Justice, is through industrial relations machinery.”
