Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 278 of 10 May 2011, if he intends to review the legislative position in relation to awarding members of An Garda Síochána a special status and protection in view of the recent incident whereby a male Garda based in Kilmainham Garda Station was attacked and burned whilst responding to a domestic incident; if he will take appropriate action in view of the seriousness of the incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19395/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that while I cannot comment on any particular case that may come before the courts, I want to make it clear that no attack on any member of An Garda Síochána or indeed another emergency service will be tolerated and that the full rigours of the law will be brought to bear on the perpetrators of any such attacks. It is very important for everyone to understand that the current legislation, as outlined in my reply on 10 May 2011, specifically protects Gardaí and other emergency workers from such attacks.

It is absolutely right that the criminal law should afford Gardaí and other emergency workers such specific protection and, if further measures are necessary in this regard, I will not hesitate to bring forward appropriate proposals.