Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for coming to the House for this motion, which I am proposing, seconded by my colleague, Senator Ardagh, and the rest of the Fianna Fáil Senators. The topic is the issue of public transportation, and most importantly, safety on our public transportation. For the benefit of the House, I will start by reading the motion and then we can have some discussion on it.

The motion states:

That Seanad Éireann: recognises that:

- there is a recent increase in anti-social behaviour on public transport across the country;

- this increase is dissuading the public from utilising the transport network [including our buses, trains, Luas and DART];

- young people, the elderly and women are particularly [negatively] impacted;

- this behaviour is undermining the significant [public] investment and funding allocated to the public transport system by the Government [and the State];

notes the:

- exposure of public transport staff to regular threats of violence [which is totally unacceptable];

- recent suspension from 6 p.m. of Dublin Bus services in parts of its network, after reports of 35 incidents of violence, attacks, vandalism, threats with knives [and other implements], and a female driver terrorised by a large mob;

- testimony of bus drivers to Dublin Bus management that it is not tenable for them to ‘risk life and limb, driving buses ... to be attacked and assaulted’ [It is truly unacceptable and disturbing for those workers to have to detail such stark and startling consequences];

agrees that:

- everyone on public transport, whether employee or passenger, should be able to rely on a safe and secure system and be protected from anti-social behaviour;

- public transport is important in meeting Ireland’s climate goals;

and calls for:

- the establishment of a dedicated Public Transport Unit within An Garda Síochána.

In a similar way, we have a road traffic unit within An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána is a trusted brand in general in Irish society. Gardaí are seen as members of our community and they are best positioned to enforce our laws and respond to any sort of illegal activity or antisocial behaviour. For that reason we are proposing that the Garda would dedicate a unit of its operations to increasing the safety and security of all of those who use our public transport system. We are particularly conscious of employees and people who are working on our public transport and of passengers. It is of the utmost importance to us all that everyone who uses our public transport does so with confidence while feeling safe and secure.

That has not been the case in recent times and there has been an increase in antisocial behaviour on public transport, which has been well documented, including on the Luas, buses and other forms of public transport. It has not been limited to the capital city alone. There have been instances of members of the public or staff subjected to intimidation, harassment, bullying - and I am sad to say this - and also assault. The situation has become intolerable. It is well past time for the establishment of a dedicated public transport unit within An Garda Síochána.

For those who may be listening to the debate and who may not be convinced I will not labour the point too much but there are some real-life examples and these are not inflated media reports. I would reference CCTV footage from April 2021 that would disturb anybody who would see it. In that footage a 17-year-old girl was seen falling from a platform onto the tracks.