Dáil debates

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

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

 

6:20 pm

Photo of Mark WardMark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This technical Bill implements the new Garda operational model and it removes the district model replacing it with Garda divisions. The problem is that the Bill could move An Garda Síochána further away from the model of community policing than ever before. Sinn Féin consistently highlights the need for more community-based policing. We have seen the numbers of community gardaí decimated under successive Governments, particularly in Dublin. For example, community gardaí in Dublin have seen their numbers decrease from 508 in 2010 to 278 in 2020. The community gardaí themselves are frustrated and feel that they cannot carry out their duties due to these cutbacks. In parts of my constituency there has been an increase in antisocial behaviour and criminality recently. We need to increase community police numbers and have gardaí on the beat. As my colleagues and Members on all sides of the House have said, visibility of gardaí in an area makes people feel safer and more secure and it improves people's quality-of-life.

I will turn to the issue of Operation Tombola. The Minister will be aware that the operation is designed to prevent and detect the sale, supply and possession of fireworks and to address antisocial behaviour in our communities in the lead-up to Hallowe'en. A press release from the Minister, available on gov.ie, states that Operation Tombola began in August. I would have welcomed this intervention as it is something that Sinn Féin called for last year. At last Friday's South Dublin County Council public meeting of the joint policing committee, which I attended, we were informed that Operation Tombola will begin on 1 October 2021 to put in place the appropriate measures in the lead-up to Hallowe'en.

Not only did Operation Tombola not begin in my area earlier this year; it has not in fact begun yet. Is this the case across all areas or is this just in my area of Dublin Mid-West?

Last year, Sinn Féin tabled a very realistic motion on community safety and fireworks that the Government amended into meaningless words. This would have made a huge difference to our communities. I am afraid that because of this, our communities are paying the price again this year. The misuse of fireworks has again been plaguing our communities. People in my community feel abandoned by the Government as a lack of visible policing is leading to a state of lawlessness. Over the past month, I have seen a rise in antisocial behaviour and more criminality, and the illegal use of fireworks has increased in my area.

The gardaí run Operation Tombola each year in the run-up to Hallowe'en to deal with the illegal use of fireworks and antisocial behaviour. Last year, after intense pressure from Sinn Féin, Operation Tombola was brought forward by one month to begin on 4 September. That was really welcome. During the debate I had last year with the previous Minister for Justice, she conceded that there may be a need to start Operation Tombola even earlier.

Going back to what I was saying, the Minister can imagine my anger and frustration on finding out during the recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee at South Dublin County Council that Operation Tombola has not even commenced yet, and is not due to start until 1 October. Instead of bring Operation Tombola forward, it is now starting more than a month later than last year. This is simply not good enough and has left our communities feeling abandoned.

I want to refer to a statement the Minister made today on gov.ie, which I will read verbatim.

Operation Tombola began in August of this year in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in response to concerns about unlicensed fireworks and their early use in the run-up to Hallowe'en.

This statement is not backed by the information I have received from the Joint Policing Committee. I also received a response to the following parliamentary question, which I will again read verbatim. The question I tabled was:

To ask the Minister for Justice the status of Operation Tombola 2021; the additional resources allocated to the operation; the commencement date of the operation; if a comparison will be made to same during Operation Tombola in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I received quite a lengthy statement, which I have with me, comprising three pages containing a lot of really good information and many welcome initiatives in Operation Tombola. I did not receive what I asked for, however, which was the commencement date. In fact, the response I received stated:

I understand that each chief superintendent in the DMR is in the process of engaging with relevant stakeholders including the local authorities to identify, co-ordinate and implement an appropriate multi-agency strategy for the Hallowe'en period.

In September when I got this answer, the chief superintendent was only processing Operation Tombola yet we are saying that it started in August. If Operation Tombola began in August, why did I not get this answer in September? Why are the gardaí in Dublin Mid-West not commencing it until 1 October? I submitted more parliamentary questions today on this matter. I have also tabled a Topical Issue matter because it is something that needs to be addressed. I thank the Minister for taking the time to be here today.

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