Minister Eamon Ryan suggests a new approach to tackling public unrest in Dublin
DUBLIN: In the aftermath of recent public order offenses in Dublin City, Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Communications Eamon Ryan says a new approach to dealing with the public is needed. Minister Ryan said policing in Dublin City centre should be handled “in a much more thought through manner” instead of baton charges and shields.
Minister Ryan’s call for a new approach comes after Assistant Commissioner Ann Marie Cagney warned that gardaí will not tolerate bad behaviour in the Dublin City centre. “We have had three members of An Garda Síochána injured over this weekend and I will not tolerate that. My job as Assistant Commissioner is to provide safety for our members and the community and in that regard those shields provide that additional protection for our members,” she said.
Gardai were forced to intensify their strict intervention in the City centre on Saturday night after hundreds of young people gathered to celebrate the weekend, and nineteen people, including two juveniles, were arrested for public order offences. Two gardaí were also injured during the operation, and several major streets were sealed off.
Ryan said: “What happened is deeply regrettable. What we don’t want is baton charges and what we don’t want is shields. What we do want is the whole thing to be managed in a much more thought-through manner.”
Mr. Ryan also hailed gardai for their efforts and expressed concern about the injured frontline members. “I’m concerned that guards were injured, and members of the public. It’s not right to be throwing glasses at anyone. They have to protect their own members and protect the public,” he said.
Minister Ryan believes that reducing the number of people congregating on the congested streets is the most effective method to tackle the issues. He advises Dublin City Council to create event control teams that will work with gardai and local businesses to properly manage this issue. He also assures the government’s support in this matter.
“What’s happening is certain streets, in a very small area, becomes the concentration of where people are hanging out. I think what we need to do is open up further space and spread it.
“By dispersing that, that’s the sort of event control management I am talking about, so no one area takes too much pressure, no one area becomes the focus where people trying to look for trouble would decide to go,” Minister said.
Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu said she wants people to visit the city in order to support local businesses and socialise. But she added: “If you’re going lighting plants on fire, furniture on fire and throwing bottles, you’re not here to take part in the outdoor summer.”
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