Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for bringing this matter to my attention and I take it extremely seriously. The Senator and everybody else would have read the reports over the weekend and on the surface they seem very alarming. The safety and security of passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour on trains, is a matter, first and foremost, for Iarnród Éireann with support, as appropriate, from An Garda Síochána. I have asked my Department to engage with Iarnród Éireann and the Rail Safety Advisory Council, which includes representatives from operators and trades union, to examine the evidence and explore the adequacy of current policing arrangements. Pending the outcome of this engagement, I will engage with the Minister for Justice and Equality, if necessary. Any such dedicated transport police that may be considered necessary would require primary legislation and additional resources. The dedicated airport police operating in Dublin Airport, for example, are authorised persons under the airport and aviation Acts 1936 to 2014. Under those Acts, authorised officers who are employees of the airport have a number of powers, including the power of arrest in certain circumstances.

There were 45.5 million passenger journeys in 2017 on Iarnród Éireann, the vast majority of which occurred without incident. According to Iarnród Éireann, the number of recorded anti-social incidents rose in the past number of years. In 2016 there were 492 incidents recorded, of which 12 were assaults on staff. In 2017, 705 incidents were recorded, of which 15 were assaults on staff. To date this year, 305 incidents have been recorded, of which five were assaults on staff. Iarnród Éireann has been actively encouraging employees to report all safety-critical matters, including threatening and violent behaviour, which may partially account for the increase.

Security patrols by Iarnród Éireann have increased by 21.8% since 2016 and the company has advised that it has enhanced general security cover and provided for enhanced security patrols for major events. Anti-social behaviour is a matter for An Garda Síochána which works in close co-operation with Iarnród Éireann on this matter. The company liaises, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis with An Garda Síochána in major districts to address trends and issues on an area basis. This allows for proactive planning for events and known recurring issues, such as summer beach days at Howth, Sutton and Portmarnock.