Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On that specific question, I have not been asked to make any changes. I regularly engage with the Commissioner to ensure he has the relevant powers he needs for his members who are engaged in any type of investigation dealing with a particular crime. Whether it is protests outside the Dáil, violent behaviour or rioting, I will always ask the Commissioner whether there is anything more that needs to be done and whether revisions need to be made. I am not aware that there are any. The one thing that has been brought to my attention recently as regards protests is the need for greater incitement to hatred legislation. We have the 1989 Act, which was put in place before much of what the Internet is now was invented and does not really deal with the types of violence and intimidation we are now seeing. There is a Bill going through the Seanad at the moment and I hope to have it enacted in the new year.

Gardaí have responded in the most appropriate way to many of the protests. Arrests have been made and An Garda Síochána is conducting investigations. As the Garda Commissioner said, it is not appropriate to get into what types of investigations are happening but I reassure Deputies and Senators that An Garda Síochána is taking this very seriously. I get regular updates from the Commissioner on security matters and issues and this is something that has now come to our shores. For a long time, we have seen this happening across the EU but in recent years, and not just the last year or two, it has become more of an issue here. However, you have to look at the fact that many of the individuals we may be aware of are very aware of the law and the type of language they can or cannot use so as not to cross the line. Often where we see violence occurring, it is not those who are instigating it that are present but those who have been encouraged to commit violent crimes or to be more violent or sinister. The Garda has a difficult job in that respect but, at the same time, it has dedicated teams looking at these changing dynamics. There are gardaí who are observing but also gardaí involved in investigations into different serious crimes that have happened.

Again, I regularly ask what gardaí need to be able to respond. I ask whether the organisation needs better CCTV technology, facial recognition to identify people, tougher laws on incitement to hatred or violence or greater police powers. As the Deputy will know, some of those are being advanced in legislation that is before the Houses.