Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The locals around Parnell Square and the parents and teachers of the children in Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire will tell you that there has been a worsening element of antisocial behaviour in that area for years. However, it is has taken a brutal attack on children and their carer for the Minister to do the job for which she was appointed. In the position of Minister for Justice, where people's lives can be on the line, it is important to be proactive rather than merely reactive, something this Minister has simply failed to be. Why has it taken the stabbing of children and their carer and rioting that resembled something from a dystopian film for her to pledge a range of actions in respect of Garda effectiveness? There is no excuse for the way gardaí were left high and dry that day. Control was lost, something that should have been foreseen was not and a proper response was not put in place in time, which led to an escalation of violence, looting and destruction.

This is not just an issue in Dublin; this is replicated across the country. In Longford, in my own constituency, there is one community garda, who is on duty from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., for a town of 11,000 people. This is at a time An Garda Síochána is communicating numerous potential threats to the community in the area. The front page of the Westmeath Topicrecently featured an article written with the assistance of gardaí at different ranks in that district. Their comments showed an underlying theme of shared concerns and fears as to the effects the downgrading of the Garda station in Athlone would have on the town, the residents, businesses and gardaí themselves. They cannot all be wrong. We need new leadership, a better vision and a Minister for Justice who will step up and ensure the necessary resources are put in place to guarantee public safety for all. It is not fair on residents or on gardaí and I say this as somebody to whom the gardaí in Mullingar frequently come to seek CCTV footage from my constituency office.

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