Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has asked the Policing Authority to review the level of force that gardaí can use during serious public order incidents.
This comes after the violent riots that engulfed Dublin City Centre last Thursday following the horrific knife attack which saw young school children from Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East targeted by a lone assailant.
She said she is asking the Authority to “provide clarity” on the matter and that she does not want members of An Garda Síochána “looking over their shoulder responding to these incidents where they feel that force is necessary.”
“There were serious thugs and criminals who went out to not just cause disruption, but to harm people on Thursday night, and gardaí need to be able to respond with the appropriate force,” the minister said.
“It is important that when responding to these serious types of incidents that gardaí can use the force that they deem appropriate. It’s so important that we trust our members to respond in the way that they deem appropriate.”
Ms McEntee said she thought the response from gardaí and the way they managed the situation last Thursday was “excellent.”
Legislation to allow gardaí use bodycams is due to pass all stages in the Oireachtas this week, with a roll out expected next year.
The Justice Minister has also asked officials to expand the scope of her Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) legislation to include severe public disorder and riots.
She said FRT will avoid gardaí having to trawl through thousands of hours of CCTV after incidents like last Thursday’s violent rioting.
Further, the Policing Authority will consider what additional equipment and resources are needed by AGS, including dog units, vehicles and non-lethal equipment.
In relation to garda body-cams, the Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has said that it is “absolutely crazy” that gardaí can turn up at a riot, and be the only ones there without a camera.
“The basic premise here is that we need to free up garda time, we need to use technology to aid gardaí in their work,” Minister Harris said.
“We also have to be very conscious, that criminals are indeed using technology now, and the idea that our gardaí would be precluded from using similar technologies would be a real problem,” he added.
A five-year-old girl who was stabbed in the school attack last Thursday remains in a critical condition in Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
A school worker who received serious injuries while protecting children from the attacker also remains in a serious condition.
The only suspect in the attack continues to receive treatment for injuries he received while being restrained by members of the public.
