Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Deputies who spoke for their contributions this evening. Although I cannot support the Sinn Féin motion, I think we agree on several important issues. Most of us agree that this is not just an issue that impacts on a certain area in Dublin; this is an issue that affects communities in towns and villages and in our rural communities. I can attest to that as somebody who represents a constituency that is both urban and rural. We can also agree that fireworks are much more dangerous than people seem to realise. In particular our younger people do not seem to realise the significant threat they can cause. Those can even be life-altering threats. This evening, Deputies have outlined some such incidents that have happened in the last 24 hours.

We all agree that the illegal use of fireworks and, in particular, the associated antisocial behaviour that accompanies it is causing considerable stress and anxiety across our communities much earlier than usual for some reason. This is something that is happening not just in Ireland. There is an increase across Europe and we have seen this type of behaviour much earlier this year. That is why today, with members of An Garda Síochána, the Dublin Fire Brigade, Ann Losty who is a member of the community in Dublin 15 and in association with the youth diversion programme, we launched the Government's annual fireworks awareness campaign. This was done a month early, acknowledging that this is an issue we need to deal with now.

Through that campaign, we are asking people, who are thinking of buying, handling or using fireworks, not to add to the significant problems already faced by our emergency services and front-line workers, who are battling against Covid-19. As many Deputies have outlined this evening, we are also asking people to think of those in their community, including people who have rallied around together in recent months and elderly members of the community who are already anxious, and to think of the impact that can have on them and their pets.

Intensive efforts to spread our message will continue in the coming weeks coming up to Hallowe'en to encourage people to stay safe. Many people have mentioned An Garda Síochána this evening and in particular Operation Tombola which was brought forward by a month, acknowledging that work needs to be done earlier this year. It very much focuses on the incremental deployment of resources. This includes public order units to try to deal with issues locally, engaging with local councils and communities. Some Deputies mentioned lack of engagement with younger people. There has been a challenge this year. As the Garda acknowledged this morning, gardaí cannot go into schools and talk face-to-face to young people as they would normally like to. From next Monday, gardaí will engage through a Zoom programme. We all acknowledge that is not the same but they are trying to engage where possible with our younger people in schools to highlight the damage this can cause and encourage them to move away from engaging in any such activity.

Special attention will be paid, in particular, to the Dublin metropolitan region, acknowledging that is a particular issue in this area. I am informed that throughout that region An Garda Síochána, the Dublin Fire Brigade and the crime prevention officers will work to raise awareness.

I share the view held by everybody in this House that the use of illegal fireworks, despite the extremely strict policy on the matter, continues to be a problem in certain areas. However, we are committed to ensuring our towns, villages and communities are safe places to live. The well-being of all our communities is a priority for the Government. An antisocial behaviour committee to be chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, is being established. A draft youth justice strategy was recently put out for consultation. Submissions have been received from across the country and we will take them into account before bringing the strategy to Government by the end of the year. A considerable amount of work is going on in my Department and obviously the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy O'Gorman, will do his own work in that area.

We are committed to combating the use of unlicensed fireworks. The legislation governing their use is particularly strict with a penalty of a fine of up to €10,000 or imprisonment of up to five years if people are caught. I engaged with the Garda Commissioner on this issue this week and was advised that a large number of seizures have been made already this year. I assume that number will continue to increase.

The Garda has strong engagement with the PSNI. Their co-operation goes across many areas. People have asked how we can prevent the sale of fireworks and from where young people are getting them in the first place. There are many measures, including a cross-Border policing strategy, an annual cross-Border seminar on organised crime and the joint agency task force, which was mentioned by one of the Deputies. It does not meet monthly but will be meeting in coming days when this issue will be very much on the agenda. Parallel investigations happen and joint investigation teams operate continually throughout the year. There is significant engagement by gardaí with their counterparts in the North to try to address this issue.

Several Deputies raised broader policing issues and have suggested that the resources are not there. I acknowledge the fantastic work done by our gardaí in engaging with our communities in recent weeks and months through the Covid pandemic. We are being held up as an example and many countries are looking to us because of how our gardaí have engaged on the ground with communities.

I am not sure where the figures in the Sinn Féin motion came from. In addition to the 4,059 gardaí assigned to the Dublin metropolitan region at the end of August 2020, a total of 429 Garda civilian staff were also assigned to this region. This is an increase of 184 on the figure in 2010. There has been an increase in every county across the board of front-line gardaí working in our communities and the civilian staff supporting them in the background.

See this speech in context