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

Absolutely. I engage with the Commissioner on my own priorities and those of the Government and the Department. It is important that I do not force something on the Commissioner that An Garda Síochána does not need. There is a two-way flow here and that is an important way in which we work with each other. An Garda works with Government to make sure it has what it needs and that what we provide is appropriate to those needs.

On vigilante patrols, a number of areas have been raised with me. I have liaised with the Garda. Some had not been brought to attention of the Garda so it does not have evidence but, obviously, nobody is above the law and anybody who tries to engage in this type of behaviour will receive a Garda response. Gardaí are the only people who can enforce the law. However, some of these incidents have not been brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána. If something like this is happening, people need to go the Garda. It is not acceptable and not to be tolerated.