Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last night, we saw frightening lawlessness in evidence in Cherry Orchard, including the ramming of a Garda car. Just before lunch today, the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Drew Harris, condemned the ramming and called it disgraceful and concerning. He stated that the Garda had stood up the public order unit, as it had done over the weekend, and that a full investigation is now under way.

I would like to say that last night was a one-off, that no one had said anything about this to the Government before now and that no one had sought anything from the Garda Commissioner where Cherry Orchard was concerned before now, but that would not be the case. Last February, I started a campaign because we needed a task force for Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard following the appalling attack on a young girl, Ms Alanna Quinn Idris, in Ballyfermot. She lost the sight in one eye. There was also an attack on a local councillor. Time and again, the communities in Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard have been left without adequate policing and local infrastructure. The entire population of Cherry Orchard has a single converted house as its shop.There is a long-promised town centre plan that has been repeatedly abandoned by Dublin City Council.

We need an apology from the Garda Commissioner. Last February, I received a report on what was supposed to be going into the area and on the entirety of the policing plan, which looked really fabulous on paper. Last night, one car went into Cherry Orchard in response to the incident that took place. That was down to the courage of the gardaí in Ballyfermot Garda station, which is now only a subdivision and has been a subdivision of the Clondalkin division of the Garda Síochána since 2000. The gardaí in that car had to go out and try to face that, and it is right that we condemn how they were treated. The people of Cherry Orchard deserve an apology from the Garda Commissioner. The people of Cherry Orchard live in fear of that kind of carry on all the time, and 95% of not 99% of those people are good, hardworking people who want the best for their children. They deserve the safety and security offered by the State. I call for a task force to be established. I appeal to the Leader to support me in that. I have spoken with the Minister for Justice several times today. I believe we will finally see action, but today is not the beginning of it. I called for such action for the first time last February.