THE GARDA RECRUITMENT embargo should be lifted following recent violent crime, Sinn Fein justice spokesperson Jonathan O’Brien has said.
Deputy O’Brien has called for the embargo to be lifted in the wake of the recent spike in violent crime.
He also called for civilians to take over administrative garda duties to ensure more fully-trained gardaí are available for front line duties.
Deputy O’Brien commented:
Sinn Féin has never agreed with the recruitment embargo in any sector of the public services. Recent events show that there is a need for more gardaí on the beat in our communities and at public events.
He called on the Minister for Justice to lift the recruitment embargo.
Following recent high-profile crimes, including stabbings at the Swedish House Mafia gig in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, some have called for tighter measures to combat crime in Ireland.
Yesterday, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesperson Niall Collins called for the establishment of a Dublin Task Force, which he said would be dedicated to addressing violent crime in the capital in response to recent incidents.
Commenting on this, Deputy O’Brien said:
This should be the responsibility of the local Joint Policing Committees but they would need to be strengthened significantly by the minister for them to be effective.
On Thursday, Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan said that frontline policing numbers could be boosted if retired gardai serving on the Garda Reserve carried out some of the administrative roles currently being filled by full time members of the force.
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