McDonald says she has no confidence in Harris or McEntee

Sinn Féin TD leader Mary Lou McDonald has joined fellow Dublin Central TD and member of the opposition Gary Gannon in expressing no confidence in Garda commissioner Drew Harris or Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. 

McDonald, whose constituency covers Parnell Square and O’Connell Street, said “let me say it plainly – people do not feel safe in Dublin city centre.”

“I do not say the following lightly, but it must be said, I have no confidence in how Dublin is being policed.”

“The people of this city have the right to be safe on their streets, in their homes and in their communities.”

While the Gardaí have the “full support” of McDonald, she said “given the catastrophic operational failures last night, I have no confidence in the Justice Minister or in the Garada commissioner.”

McDonald said her party has been highlighting the crisis surrounding policing in Dublin, saying there are not adequate numbers.

She also added that there was “a festering growth of the far-right.”

McDonald went one step further than Gannon in calling for McEntee’s resignation.

Sinn Féin are looking to put forward a Dáil motion on the proposed abolition of the “triple lock” system, but there is speculation among political analysts that Sinn Féin may use the time to launch a vote of no confidence against McEntee.