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

The Garda is there to keep the peace. It carries out its normal activities as An Garda Síochána in this country in order to ensure that the protests are peaceful. A total of 188 arrests have been made since November 2014 in regard to water charge protests and within that number some individuals have been the subject of arrest on multiple occasions. The majority of arrests made relate to public order offences and breaches of section 12 of the Water Services Act, although there have been arrests for more serious offences. Obviously, in order to ensure people can participate in peaceful protests, gardaí go about their business as members of An Garda Síochána and deal with situations as they arise and take the appropriate action to deal with them. As I said, since November 2014, 188 arrests have had to be made in regard to peaceful protests.

An Garda Síochána goes about its normal business of keeping the peace, whether it be at a water protest or in another situation. Clearly, there have not been peaceful protests in certain areas because 188 arrests have been made.

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