Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

However, I also believe we have seen grandstanding by those in government, by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members who are desperately seeking to evade accountability by churning out calls that will do anything but address the real crisis facing policing. We have heard red herring calls, such as calls for cuts to benefits and for facial recognition technology, water cannons, dogs and more police powers.

We warned yesterday that the Minister cannot legislate her way out of this crisis – it is not about that – nor can she distract us with political theatre, such as asking the Policing Authority to provide clarity on the use of force. That is a farcical question because we know the Garda Commissioner and senior management are responsible for providing the training and guidance to gardaí on the proportionate use of force. The Policing Authority is not a legal adviser. Who has made this request and why? Was it the Commissioner who asked for clarity on the use of force, or is it merely a distraction tactic of the Minister? What people really want now is reassurance that our streets will be safe and attacks and riots will not happen again. We need accountability and more visible policing, not grandstanding from the Opposition or Government.

The Garda Commissioner is in charge of policing operations in the State and the Minister is politically responsible for policing. Last year, the whole Government, on the Minister's advice, extended the Commissioner's term of appointment to 2025. Under the Government members' combined watch, Garda numbers in Dublin have fallen. There are 200 gardaí fewer now on the streets than in 2020. Law and order are being eroded across the capital city's streets and our country.

There is a triple crisis within the Garda of morale, recruitment and retention, and I spoke about it yesterday. An overwhelming majority of rank-and-file gardaí have no confidence in their leadership, and more and more gardaí are simply leaving the force. A record 114 gardaí resigned up to the end of September and there were 851 voluntary retirements in the past three years, implying a force that is being hollowed out. The Minister needs to address morale issues and make training more attractive. Our communities need more gardaí on the streets, with a functioning leadership and real political accountability.

Will the Minister tell us whether Commissioner Harris asked for clarity on the use of force or was it her idea? What are she and the Commissioner doing to stop gardaí from resigning? At any point since Thursday, has the Commissioner offered to resign after what was a complete breakdown of law and order on the streets of Dublin?

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