Dáil debates

Thursday, 4 June 2020

Covid-19 (Justice and Equality): Statements

 

9:30 pm

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the opportunity to address the House again on issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Two weeks ago, only a few short days after I last spoke in the House about Covid-19, I attended a ceremony at Dublin Castle to mark the annual Garda Memorial Day, which commemorates gardaí who have lost their lives in the service of the State. It would be fitting at the outset of our debate to put on record some of my remarks from that occasion. As I said then, I take tremendous pride in the everyday work of the more than 14,700 women and men now serving as gardaí in communities all across the State. There are now more gardaí than at any time in the history of the organisation. In my three years as Minister, I have had the privilege of working in close contact with the membership of An Garda Síochána as well as others in front-line roles in the emergency services. I admire hugely the bravery of gardaí and their commitment to public service of the State. I also admire their connection with the people.

I am sure the House has been looking at the events unfolding in America with as much horror as I have. The death of George Floyd was a tragedy. Its aftermath has been horrific and very difficult for decent law enforcement officers across the United States of America. As we sympathise with the family and friends of Mr. Floyd and watch the subsequent unrest, we should all take note of how unreal it seems to us in Ireland and how far the situation appears from our own reality, in large part, I would contend, because of the close relationship the people have with An Garda Síochána and their local gardaí. At times of crisis we are protected by the largely unarmed women and men of An Garda Síochána. They work to shield us all from harm. They connect our communities. Often they are also the ones to break difficult news. They support us in moments of intense grief. It is that commitment to family, community and country that defines An Garda Síochána at its very best, which brings us to the heart of the topic we are to discuss this evening, community policing.

Community engagement has been a feature of An Garda Síochána since its inception as an unarmed service almost 100 years ago.

Yet, I imagine there are many different perspectives on what exactly community policing is and what it means in operational terms. The House will be aware that in September 2018 the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland published its report outlining a vision and roadmap for strengthening An Garda Síochána and the broader national framework for policing, community safety and security. The report followed extensive consultations with communities and a wide range of stakeholders over 15 months.

Indeed, the Government endorsed the commission's report. A four-year implementation plan, A Policing Service for the Future, is now progressing. The report of the commission and its implementation plan present the vision of a modern and effective police service with human rights as its foundation and community safety at its heart. The commission envisaged a new model of policing where community policing is the backbone of all policing activities. In other words, all gardaí working at a local level should see their overarching collective function as working together to solve problems impacting community safety in the local area.

Yet, as the commission's report also stated, policing is not only about detecting and investigating crime, crucial though this function is. It is also about preventing harm to those who are vulnerable and this important responsibility is not the responsibility of An Garda Síochána alone. This is why, in addition to setting out a new governance and oversight framework for An Garda Síochána, the policing and community safety Bill, which is currently being drafted, will redefine policing to include prevention of harm, in particular to those who are vulnerable. It will place an obligation on relevant State agencies to co-operate with the Garda on community safety matters. Work is well advanced.

Yet, even ahead of the development of community engagement and these new structures and approaches, I call on Deputies to agree that a striking feature of the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the extent to which gardaí have stepped up with community outreach and engagement throughout the country. In addition to the critical role that gardaí are playing in supporting public health restrictions as well as regular policing operations, Covid-19 has reinforced the manner in which proactive community engagement can improve the condition of people's lives. In all our communities, urban and rural, Garda members are reaching out to those who are most vulnerable, alone, fearful and afraid. Gardaí are encouraging anyone who needs help to call the local station and seek assistance, which will be forthcoming. In recent weeks and in the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves I have heard of Garda members calling to check on people who are cocooning, dropping off shopping and dealing with prescriptions and dropping them to people in isolated areas. They are serving as a lifeline by delivering other necessary equipment or materials where needed, for example, personal protective equipment for use by home carers in Letterkenny and care packages to elderly members of the public cocooning in Blanchardstown. Up and down the country they are saving humans and wildlife in danger, from ducklings in Dublin to lambs and foals and, in one remarkable event in April, rescuing a beached dolphin in Donegal. In this way, the long-standing community ethos of An Garda Síochána has been brought even more to the fore. I believe it is true to say that in many cases the public have never felt as close to their local gardaí as in recent times.

It is notable that a number of recent public surveys by external bodies have found strong support and satisfaction for how An Garda Síochána has operated during the crisis. These high levels of public support and satisfaction with gardaí can only be helpful as we move gradually towards a full reopening of society.

As Deputies will be aware, in addition to weekly reports by the Commissioner, the Policing Authority is, at my request, assessing and reporting regularly on Garda action in the context of Covid-19. I requested these reports in the interests of transparency and public confidence and to ensure the new and temporary Garda powers were implemented in a proportionate and human rights-compliant manner. The authority's most recent report specifically addresses community engagement and documents the overwhelmingly positive reaction at community level to the breadth and depth of Garda engagement. I understand that these and related matters will be explored further in the next report of the authority, which I will receive in the coming days. I appreciate the Policing Authority's detailed engagement with a range of stakeholders in this task and I thank the authority for this helpful analysis.

Combating domestic abuse and sexual violence remains a priority during the pandemic. Deputies will be aware that, at an early stage, the Garda established a proactive initiative in this regard, Operation Faoisimh. The first phase of the operation involved gardaí making proactive contact with victims who had reported domestic abuse in the past and actively following up on that. The second phase has now begun, and I understand from the Commissioner that it targets perpetrators. The operation builds on other victim-centric approaches that the Garda is implementing, including the roll-out of the divisional protection services units. I understand that 16 of these have been established across 15 divisions. The roll-out is continuing and will be completed shortly. These proactive measures are most welcome. Sadly, they are all too necessary. The Garda indicates that there has been a 25% increase in reporting of domestic abuse incidents. However, I want the message to go clearly out to the women and men who suffer these dreadful crimes that supports and services are available despite the pandemic and that the civil and criminal justice system will continue to prioritise their support and safety.

I hope that I have, by means of my remarks, provided a brief update on community policing in the context of Covid-19 and a flavour of the impact the new approaches and emphasis can have. I see a real sense of purpose in Garda members as they serve and protect us in these unprecedented times. I am conscious also of the sacrifices often made by the families of gardaí. It is not easy knowing that a loved one's working day can expose him or her to danger on a continuous basis. The reality is that the actions of the Garda during these difficult days are creating a new and positive entry in the proud history of the service. When we have emerged from this pandemic, which we will, and had the chance to grieve fully for those who have been lost, I hope that we will also have the opportunity to reflect on what lessons and positive innovations, including in policing, we can draw from this period and take with us into the post-Covid world.

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