Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

People are reeling since events that took place in Dublin last Thursday. In broad daylight, small children and their carer were attacked, stabbed outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square. One five-year-old child remains in hospital fighting for her life and we pray that she and all those injured will make a full recovery. We stand with this amazing school community who, under a heavy cloud of shock and trauma, did incredible work in getting children back to school on Monday.

How have things got so bad that young children are in danger outside their school in the middle of the day? I understand the alleged perpetrator is in custody and, in time, we will learn the story behind all this. The reality, however, is that Dublin city centre has not been safe for some time, with antisocial behaviour, open drug dealing and drug taking, street drinking, and gangs hanging around causing trouble. This should not be news to the Taoiseach.

What happened in the aftermath of the horrific knife attack was deplorable, shameful and criminal. The burned-out cars and buses, smashed-up shopfronts and the experiences of intimidation bear testimony to the destruction inflicted on Dublin by a mob of thugs. Public safety collapsed, people were endangered, and gardaí were isolated and assaulted. The idea that this violence could not be predicted is a nonsense. This situation has been building for months. By 2.30 on Thursday afternoon it was obvious there was a threat to public safety. Where was the Garda Commissioner? Where was the Minister for Justice? A strong policing response was needed. Leadership was needed, but instead brave gardaí were left high and dry.

I have full confidence in An Garda Síochána. I have zero confidence in the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice. The cold truth is Commissioner Harris and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, lost control of Dublin city centre. For years, communities and businesses have been telling the Government that we do not have enough gardaí on the streets, on the beat, on bikes and in communities. When those poor children were being attacked, I was meeting with a major employer in Dublin city whose primary issue is concern for the safety of staff at work and coming and going to work. The Taoiseach is not listening. The Government's depletion of An Garda Síochána has left people feeling unsafe and endangered in this city and beyond.

Teip thubaisteach ar an bpóilíneacht a bhí anseo. Ní féidir leis an Aire, an Teachta McEntee, fanacht sa phost. Caithfidh an Taoiseach í a bhaint mar Aire Dlí agus Cirt because, ultimately, the responsibility lies with the Minister, Deputy McEntee. In July, following several assaults and incidents in Dublin, the United States Government issued warnings to Americans travelling to Dublin. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, at that point declared the streets of the city were safe. Today, the Canadian, Australian and British Governments have issued warnings to their citizens travelling to Dublin.

Yet, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, refuses to accept that control of Dublin city centre was lost. It seems the Minister has moved from denial to full-blown delusion. She is clearly not the person to provide the leadership needed to restore public confidence in policing. Her position is now untenable. The Taoiseach must now do what is necessary, having failed the people badly, and remove Helen McEntee as Minister for Justice.

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