Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue. The report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland was released yesterday and there has been a great deal of talk about gardaí working more closely with the community. Working more closely with the community makes a great deal of sense for An Garda Síochána and is in the public interest. The public would like it. In the recent incident on Frederick Street North, however, 12 public order gardaí went in wearing balaclavas with at least six other regular gardaí attending, giving a total of approximately 18. It is a bit mad and it does not create the right public impression. If the owner of the building gets a court order to evacuate the building and decides to hire a group of gurriers to accomplish that, gardaí should not reinforce them. It does not do them any good.

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