Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1025. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if airport police can be included within the emergency service workers who will be included within proposed legislation to increase the maximum sentence for assault on such emergency workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18125/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I want to reiterate that any attacks on members of An Garda Síochána and other frontline services are totally unacceptable. We are all immensely grateful to these people for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public, and for the important role that they play in our society.

Frontline workers must be protected in carrying out their work and the law reflects the importance of this, and there are a range of robust legislative provisions available to the Garda authorities in circumstances where threats or assaults are made against front line workers.

I will shortly bring proposals to Government to increase sentences for assaults on members of An Garda Síochána and other emergency service workers, and my officials are currently considering the best approach to achieve this.