Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I agree with Senator Vincent P. Martin about CAB moneys being reinvested in our communities. As long as I can remember, Sinn Féin has been calling for just that. That would be a very welcome move. In addition, it should be designed out as well, as it is a very important contribution in terms of designing public spaces for people and communities. For example, better lit streets and more trees, in particular, are good in terms of discouraging antisocial behaviour.

As elected public representatives, we must acknowledge and address, directly and in a considerate and constructive manner, the public order issues faced by communities. We know communities across Ireland are filled with good, decent and hard-working people and families. It is our duty to ensure these communities and those who live, work and socialise in them have the support and resources necessary to thrive now and into the future.

First, I would like to recognise and commend An Garda Síochána on the fundamental role it plays in maintaining public order and safe streets. A strong Garda presence, from community policing to specialised and operational policing, is vital to ensure communities see, feel and believe they are safe. In this regard, I am particularly mindful of the work undertaken by members of the force as part of Operation Citizen and other similar operations.

However, long-term under-resourcing of An Garda Síochána has resulted in an often overstretched and demoralised force. The Irish Timescited that many members would be hesitant to recommend a career in policing. Many more said that though they had previously planned to remain in the force until compulsory retirement age, they now intended to retire when they are eligible. We have now reached a point where one in three rank-and-file gardaí who left the force this year resigned rather than retired. These high levels of resignation are already having an impact on front-line policing. Since 2018, we have seen a decrease of 168 gardaí deployed in the public order unit alone. Gardaí themselves have advised there is not the level of manpower to provide the public a proper service. Sinn Féin recognises that everyone is entitled to policing that serves the community as a whole. We therefore call on the Government to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources necessary to undertake its work effectively.

On long-term solutions, however, gardaí alone cannot and should not be tasked with ensuring development and maintenance of a safe and vibrant community. It is also important to look at the bigger picture and consider the long-term community investments necessary to reduce crime. We are all aware of the Government’s failure to invest and develop affordable housing. If communities are to survive and thrive, it is vital that, at a minimum, they have affordable housing, access to appropriate educational, health and other essential services, free and easily accessible recreational facilities and spaces, public transport and larger infrastructure that meets the needs of all within the community.

A vibrant nightlife is also an issue I wanted to raise. Give Us The Night and campaigners have been advocating for positive changes to nightlife in Ireland for some time. The implementation of the report of the night-time economy task force goes some way in terms of using our city as a kind of 24-hour place where people do not just flood the streets at 2.30 a.m. and put huge pressure on services, retail and fast-food outlets. Rather, we should have staggered closing times of pubs and late bars, with night clubs closing later at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., so that we use our city in a much better way and do not put that pressure on services. Not everyone who goes out at night drinks but, in many cases, people have alcohol on board.

I also cannot rise today without referencing an escalation that I see of attacks on LGBT people. We saw on 9 November in Dublin city centre a group of men set upon three drag queens on South Great George's Street or Dame Street or on the corner of the two. I raise this issue because, the last I checked, I think there is an average of one attack on LGBT people every month reported in the LGBT press. There is currently no hate crime legislation on the books, but the Government has given a commitment that it will be on the books and signed into law by the end of the year. That is welcome and has been long called for and demanded.

Everyone condemns antisocial and criminal incidents. However, as elected public representatives, we have a duty not only to express our condemnation and stand in solidarity with victims of crime but to support the Garda and communities to develop targeted, actionable and achievable solutions in both the short and long term. It is through this action, as opposed to mere condemnation that long-lasting and meaningful progression can be achieved.