Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In speaking to this amendment, I will echo a good deal of what Senator Ward outlined in his contribution. As the Minister will know, I had a Private Member's Bill regarding assaults on emergency workers. It covered a broader range of workers than just gardaí. I am delighted the Minister's Department has now moved on that. I thank the Minister's officials with whom I was in contact - I see Dan here this afternoon - for all of their help and assistance in that regard. We need to send a very strong message to anybody who would contemplate assaulting any of our front-line or emergency workers because they are the people we turn to in an emergency. If we cannot protect them, it is a very sad day.

With regard to Senator Black's contribution, there will be times when there are issues surrounding unprovoked attacks, including mental health and addiction issues.The courts are well fit to take that into consideration. We need to apologise to nobody for sending the very strong message that anybody who interferes with any of our front-line workers will feel the full wrath of the law. I welcome this legislation and sincerely hope it has the desired effect. There are few professions where one who puts on a uniform in the morning and may not take it off in the evening, as is the case for gardaí. They put their lives at risk, as do all our front-line workers, to protect us. The very least we, as legislators, can do is to do the best we can to protect them. I welcome this Bill.