Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not think the Deputy listened to my reply. I said, "I am happy to confirm for the House that Operation Mizen is not a surveillance programme operated by An Garda Síochána, contrary to assertions that have been made recently in commentary on water protests". I also answered the Deputy's question about whether public representatives are being monitored when I made it absolutely clear that this is not the case. That was very clear in my answer. The statutory functions of An Garda Síochána include the preservation of peace and public order, the protection of life and property and the vindication of the human rights of individuals. As we all know, in the context of these functions it has been necessary for the Garda authorities to deploy gardaí routinely at water meter installations and protests. That is the reality of what has been happening. We know that when we look at the number of arrests, for example. The Garda authorities have confirmed that there have been 188 arrests in relation to water protests since November 2014. It should be noted in that regard that some individuals have been arrested on multiple occasions. That, and not the way the Deputy characterises this operation, is the reality of the job the gardaí are doing out there. This is a routine operation in terms of managing protests and ensuring the safety of protestors.

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