Sinn Féin have no credibility on justice, claims Farrell

Sinn Féin have “no credibility” on crime and justice, claims Fine Gael’s Justice spokesperson Alan Farrell.

The Dublin Fingal TD said that the party have only produced one document within the last three years, which he notes is “one flimsy policy document of less than 20 pages on justice, mostly comprised of graphics and photographs.”

Farrell said “since January 2020, Sinn Féin has produced one document of less than 20 pages on its website – and this was specific to Dublin alone.”

“In the same period, Sinn Féin has repeatedly failed to support the annual retention of the Offences Against the State Acts and its party leader has faced questions over her links with convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall.”

With Sinn Féin poised to become the largest party after the next general election, Farrell said that the party “could not be trusted with the keys to the Department of Justice.”

“The only original proposal Sinn Féin make in their document is that they would implement the training model for An Garda Síochána – politicians have no place setting out how members of An Garda Síochána should be trained,” he said.

“That is a matter for Gardaí and policing experts themselves and we only have to look to the Metropolitan Police to see how substandard training can have a hugely negative impact on a police force.”

Fine Gael have come under fire from members of the opposition in recent weeks for their handling of crime issues nationwide, which Farrell defended.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee’s performance as Minister for Justice has come under heavy scrutiny in the wake of recent high-profile assaults on tourists in Dublin and nearly 99% of rank-and-file gardaí voting for no confidence in Commissioner Drew Harris.

“We are increasing and accelerating recruitment in An Garda Síochána after a Covid-enforced pause, and we are on track to have between 700 and 800 new recruits into the college in 2023,” he claimed.

“The record levels of investment has allowed over 12,000 mobility devices being provided to front-line Gardaí; the largest fleet of vehicles in the organisation’s history, increased welfare and mental health supports, and a new, more practical operational uniform,” which Farrell cited as examples of how Fine Gael has handled matters pertaining to justice since 2020.

Farrell also cited Minister for Justice Helen McEntee’s policies in her tenure as Minister, said she is “driving through an ambitious programme of reform through her annual Justice Plans and landmark Zero Tolerance strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence”

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said that “garda numbers and morale are on the floor. ”

“The number of Gardaí has fallen for each year that Minister Helen McEntee has been Minister for Justice. In 2020 there were 14,628 Gardaí in the state.  In 2021 the strength of the Gardaí fell to 14,369. In 2022 the strength of the Gardaí stood at 14,283. And the latest figures we have show just 13,892 gardaí employed across the state,” he said.

Labour TD for Dublin Bay North Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said “Fine Gael’s obsession is with tax cuts but not social inequality – this situation is their failure.”