Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend my colleague, Deputy Calleary, on bringing forward the Assaults on Emergency Workers Bill 2012. I am disappointed that the Government is not prepared to accept the Bill because, as Deputy Calleary noted in his introductory remarks, its intention is to send a clear message to society that we stand by our emergency workers. Fianna Fáil would be happy to work with the Government on Committee Stage to strengthen the Bill and rectify any deficiencies that are identified. The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Kehoe, pointed to difficulties in the definition of "emergency worker". This and other issues could be addressed on Committee Stage. The Law Reform Commission was asked by the then Attorney General, Paul Gallagher, to examine the area of mandatory sentencing. There is nothing to prevent the commission's recommendations from being incorporated into this Bill once it publishes its report.

This Bill is designed to protect front line emergency workers from grievous harm as they keep our streets safe, fight fires and look after injured victims. Gardaí, nurses, fire officers and doctors are on the front line protecting ordinary citizens but they too need to be protected by the full force of the law. This Bill introduces a specific prohibitive punishment against individuals who assault emergency workers in the course of their duties.

The all too familiar scenes of drink and drug fuelled violence which confront ordinary emergency workers every night in towns across the country must be addressed. Irish society's dark side of drink and drug abuse and general anti-social behaviour are not just confined to large urban centres. There have been targeted attacks on workers trying to keep people safe, tackle fires and tend injured victims. Emergency workers play a vital role on the front line and it is morally imperative for the State and the Legislature to support them in their duties with the strongest legislation. The latest figures from the Garda Representative Association, which document 800 assaults every year on members of the Garda, underlines the dangerous work gardaí do and the need to support them in their efforts to keep peace on our streets. I wonder how many more undocumented attacks are made on gardaí. This Bill introduces a mandatory five year minimum sentence for assaults on emergency workers performing their duties in order to send a clear message that we respect and appreciate the work they do.

Deputy Calleary referred to the tragic deaths in County Donegal of Garda Robbie McCallion and Garda Gary McLoughlin. Both men died in the course of duty and their deaths were a tragedy for their families and society in general. Deputy Calleary referred to the sentence imposed and the judge's comments on the case.

Other Deputies have spoken about Hallowe'en. As we approach Hallowe'en, we should be conscious of the dangers that fire brigade personnel face when they are called out to incidents. These difficulties are compounded by aggressive anti-social behaviour. Fire officers are frequently subjected to rock throwing and worse attacks from gangs of youths while they are saving property from destruction and protecting communities across the country. How can we expect the fire brigade to function effectively when it is so frequently attacked and how can we expect brave fire officers to keep going under such stress? This Bill will send a message that they will be given the utmost support by the State in their important work. Brutal and mindless attacks on emergency workers will not be tolerated and will be seriously punished.

All Members are aware of the difficulties facing personnel who work in accident and emergency departments in hospitals nationwide. This applies to nurses, doctors and all the support staff. Were statistics available, it would be interesting to compare the number of security personnel who worked in such departments some years ago with the present number. I expect there must have been a substantial increase in the number of security personnel working in hospital emergency departments. This provides a clear indication of the frightening increase in violence, thuggery and abuse by thugs of people attending emergency departments. Those people who create trouble in such departments cause a great deal of additional stress to the ill people who await treatment there. Moreover, as public representatives, all Members have encountered people who brought a family member to an emergency department and who were horrified by the anti-social behaviour of others attending the department. Sometimes, the perpetrators had presented to the accident and emergency department for treatment themselves while at other times, they had accompanied other people who required treatment. However, all Members know of elderly people in particular who have been very frightened by the behaviour of a small number of people in accident and emergency departments. As a Legislature and as a society, a clear message must be sent that the utmost protection will be provided to all emergency workers. As for those who abuse, attack or cause harm to emergency workers going about their daily duties, often in stressful circumstances, we must ensure the law is in place to provide the latter with the utmost protection by the State.

Members appreciate that nurses, doctors and all the other support staff in hospitals are under continual stress. This is in the nature of the job as while they are under pressure when dealing with people and because of staff shortages in many instances, the work is inherently stressful. There have been many examples of people completely misbehaving, causing a nuisance, threatening people and in some cases attacking those who were providing an excellent service to people who were ill. It is well known that during weekend across the country, many accident and emergency departments experience violent outbreaks from drunken parties, gangs that have taken drugs and gangs of thugs. The doctors and nurses who work late into the night to provide support and care to victims deserve the utmost support. This Bill, introduced on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, draws a clear line under assaults on the men and women committed to providing a vital public service. Its pledges them the clear support of the law when they are endangered. In his opening remarks, Deputy Calleary appealed to the Minister of State by noting the Bill is about giving society a clear message that the utmost support will be given to emergency workers, regardless of whether they work in accident and emergency departments, are out on the streets at night or attend fires, road accidents or whatever.

Reference has been made to some unfortunate and highly undesirable incidents that took place in this city in particular on the night of what has become known as Arthur's Day at the end of September. All Members appreciate the iconic brand for this country that the company in question represents, as well as the important export earnings it brings to the Exchequer. In addition, the company has a good record in sponsoring sports and community events. However, some undesirable incidents, albeit probably of a limited nature, have now become associated with that day. Perhaps this provides an opportunity for the company to put whatever sponsorship goes into the promotion of Arthur's Day into another sporting or community event, where it would be put to better use. This is a company that has been closely associated with this country, which provides valuable employment and which brings much-needed export earnings to the Exchequer.

I was glad of the opportunity to make a brief contribution on this important Bill. I compliment my colleague, Deputy Calleary, on his work and on his taking into account the views of so many relevant stakeholders in the drafting of the legislation.

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