Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Clonan is right. Society is measured by how it treats and values its most vulnerable. That is something none of us should ever forget. I am calling for a debate with the Minister for Justice on the motion passed unanimously in this House last week calling for a dedicated public transport Garda unit. My party campaigned on this issue in the last general election and included it in its manifesto. It did not make into the programme for Government but we have continued to work on this issue. Antisocial behaviour in any part of life is completely unacceptable. There is a particular focus on having gardaí deployed on public transport because as we are all trying to adjust and embrace climate action and reduce our private vehicle usage and encourage others to use or work in public transport, we need to ensure that it is not only reliable, efficient and affordable, it is safe. The results of our survey say that the vast majority of public transport workers and users who responded to it find it unsafe and would welcome the presence of gardaí on public transport. I would appreciate it if the Deputy Leader could arrange a debate in the House with the Minister for Justice on that issue.

Regarding the protests that are taking place around the country, I will not go into great detail because most of the points have already been made. It is incumbent on everybody, not just those in these Houses, to remember that to live free from fear of violence, intimidation and abuse is a basic human right. Each one of us needs to remember that. Let us not make excuses for attending protests that are designed to spread fear, intimidate and threaten violence. There is no excuse for it from anyone.