Garda plan ‘does not mean armed gardaí on streets’ says McEntee

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has clarified the details of a plan to beef up garda presence on the streets of Dublin, insisting that it will not mean that there will be armed guards on street corners.

Tuesday’s announcement that armed gardaí would be part of a surge in garda numbers on Dublin streets has been met with a mixed reaction.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, McEntee said “I think there’s maybe a perception that we’re going to have armed gardaí standing on the corner of our streets – that’s not what we’re talking about here.”

“The armed support unit has always supported Operation Citizen. They’re there in the vans should there be a threat to life, should something get out of hand,” she insisted.

She claimed the aim of Operation Citizen was to increase the number of gardaí walking the beat in the city centre, adding “that’s what people want to see.”

“It’s not about people with tasers or weapons standing on the side of the street.”

The potential of armed garda units on Dublin streets has been greeted with unease by both Government and Opposition TDs, with Green Party TDs Neasa Hourigan and Patrick Costello showing discomfort with the plan.

Costello said the plan was “disproportionate and draconian.”

“That the commissioner has jumped to using armed gardaí begs the question is there enough regular frontline Gardaí to do the job, or is this the commissioner over-compensating for previous inaction,” he said.

The Dublin South Central TD said that “more gardaí on the beat is necessary” but t urged Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to “reconsider this policing plan and put a more appropriate plan in place.”

Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan tweeted “what works in tackling anti-social behaviour since time immemorial is community-based policing/diversion programs and tackling the root causes of deprivation and drug use. What we’re being offered?…. ‘armed officers, riot police and dog units’.

Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson Pa Daly said “we need more details about the deployment of public order and armed response units.”

“This must be a short-term response. Policing requires the faith and co-operation of the communities being policed. We also need to see a medium and long-term response that addresses the core issues that Fine Gael has neglected for so long.”