Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Garda Siochana (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Second Stage

 

6:20 pm

Photo of Patricia RyanPatricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It is very much a technical Bill, which is necessary to implement a new Garda operational model. The Bill will replace Garda districts with divisions in any relevant legislation and will also change the rank at which some functions or duties can be carried out. One criticism I have of this Bill is the short time that we have been given to consider it. Given the urgency to pass the Bill before the new divisional model goes live in the near future, we need more time to consider the consequences of these changes.

From a worker's point of view, the duties of certain Garda ranks will change and there should be appropriate remuneration for this. There needs to be proper consultation with representative groups. We cannot have the same dissatisfaction that followed the publication of the Changing Policing in Ireland report. The GRA and the AGSI, just like any other representative groups or unions, must have their views listened to. This Government and its predecessor, which is identical in make-up except for the green mudguard, have ridden roughshod over workers' rights. A Government that would not stand up for Debenhams' workers will certainly not stand up for the ordinary men and women of An Garda Síochána.

Aside from workers' rights, I am also concerned that districts will be amalgamated into divisions whereby some rural areas will lose out on Garda resources they may previously have had. These are resources needed now more than ever, particularly in the rural areas I represent of south Kildare and north Laois. The Government is leaving rural Ireland behind and this needs to change.

We all read the results of the Newstalk survey this week that shows almost nine out of ten women are afraid to walk our streets at night. I was interviewed as part of the survey and from personal experience I know what it is like to feel unsafe, even on well-lit or busy streets. Anyone who takes the Luas, as I do most days coming here to Leinster House, will also have experienced this fear. Sinn Féin has continuously highlighted the need for a more community-based policing model. Gardaí who are known in their community will, naturally, be more approachable. Garda visibility is known as a deterrent against crime but this Bill does little to help us with this. We need more community gardaí and more investment in the community policing model. It is not just a Garda visibility problem. We have a Garda availability problem. The gardaí themselves are not to blame. The Government must provide proper manpower and resources. It has consistently failed to do this. Sinn Féin in government will increase Garda numbers. We will increase the numbers of civilian workers to free up gardaí for front-line duties and we will ensure that there is a proper investment programme put in place to ensure that the gardaí have enough resources to keep the community safe. Other Deputies have also spoken about how this needs to happen.

I had two reports this week of residents in Monasterevin and Portarlington being unable to get an answer when they called the Garda station there despite the fact that the phone is supposed to be diverted to Kildare town and Portlaoise Garda stations, respectively, when the station is unattended. This leaves residents vulnerable. Not only does it leave residents in Monasterevin and Portarlington and the surrounding areas very vulnerable, it also leaves us and the criminals knowing when the Garda stations are unmanned. It is simply not good enough. I have also had a report of a Garda car being shared between Kildare town and Athy stations.

It is no wonder that we have a drugs epidemic in our communities. Gardaí were searching a house recently for drugs and they accidentally discovered a grow house next door when they smelled cannabis being smoked in the neighbouring house. We need to equip the gardaí to use thermal imaging, energy usage and intelligence to search for grow houses. It should not just be left to chance. Drugs are ravaging our communities and families. Drugs ravage our young people and rob them of their futures. If this Government will not act, it should put somebody in here who will.

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