Fine Gael general election candidate Billy O’Shea and Sinn Fein TD, Pa Daly, has sharply contrasting opinions on the outgoing government’s record on law and order issues.
As Kerry counts down to polling day, Mr O’Shea has insisted that that the people can look forward to a range of new safety measures if his party gets back into power with a comprehensive plan to strengthen community safety, support An Garda Síochána, tackle domestic and sexual violence and bolster Ireland’s security and defence capabilities.
But Sinn Fein TD Pa Daly, the party’s spokesperson on justice, has slammed Fine Gael’s record on policing and community safety and he claimed the party has little credibility when talking about safer streets.
Billy O’Shea said Fine Gael is committing to 6,000 new Garda recruits and tripling the Garda Reserve to 3,000.
“More Gardaí on patrol means safer streets and so we’ll double the Garda training allowance and open a second Garda training college, with regional universities involved to make joining the force more accessible,” he said.
“For victims of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence, Fine Gael will keep zero tolerance as the priority. We’ll introduce specialised judges, ensuring victims can access counselling without fear and deliver dedicated family courts”.
“Every measure we’re taking is about keeping people safe in Kerry. Whether it’s putting Gardaí on the streets, fighting modern crime, or strengthening our Defence Forces, Fine Gael is delivering a safe and secure Ireland,” he claimed.
However, Deputy Pa Daly countered: “They have been in power for 14 years now and have held the justice portfolio for all of that time. In that period, policing and community safety have progressively deteriorated.
He adeed: “We have reached a situation, under Fine Gael, where people in many parts of the state no longer feel safe on the streets of our towns and cities.
“Central to Fine Gael’s disastrous policy approach in justice has been the downgrading of An Garda Síochána and the lack of respect or leadership shown to Gardaí. There are now around 100 fewer Gardaí than there were in 2020.
“Presence of Gardaí in both rural and urban areas is essential yet FG has even failed to recruit to the Garda Reserve, let alone An Garda Síochána. Policing is a much worse position now,” Deputy Daly maintained.
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