Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On amendments Nos. 5 and 6, the Minister outlined why she is not accepting the amendments and Senator Ward also made points on them. I have seen communities overpoliced. People might think that I am anti-Garda but I am far from it. We need a certain level of Garda protection for all citizens. That is common sense. What we are talking about is fairness for people. If the body-worn camera is one-sided, civilians will not have a choice.

From living on a halting site in Ballyfermot, I have seen how gardaí can and do abuse their power. We all have to be honest about that. That is my side in standing up here. I mention the injustice that ordinary citizens experience, let that be members of the Traveller community or people from working class areas. I am a qualified youth worker. Numerous times before I ever came here, I saw young people in Ballyfermot aged 15 or 16 being intimidated by gardaí on the streets. They were stopped and searched so we already see that happening. This should not be one-sided as there is no justice in that. That also extends to amendment No. 9.

While I get what Senator Ward said, I hope that he and the Minister will understand that when you live in a working class area and see intimidation and abuse of power first-hand it is a horse of a different colour. That is why Senator Ruane’s amendment seeks to protect people in civil society.