Sinn Féin have no policies or any credibility on justice and policing

Sinn Féin have no policies or any credibility on crime and justice – and the public knows they cannot be trusted on law and order, according to Fine Gael Dáil justice spokesman Alan Farrell.

In the last three years, Sinn Féin has released just one flimsy policy document of less than 20 pages on justice, mostly comprised of graphics and photographs.

This so-called policy document also only has one original idea – and this is a deeply troubling one that Sinn Féin itself would set the training regime for An Garda Síochána.

In contrast, while Sinn Féin’s party leader had a constituency councillor who went on to become a notorious gang criminal, Fine Gael in Government has supported An Garda Síochána taking on the gangland thugs.

And Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has been supporting An Garda Síochána and bringing investment in the force to a record €2.14 billion in 2023.

Minister McEntee is also driving through an ambitious programme of reform through her annual Justice Plans and landmark Zero Tolerance strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

These include tougher sentences for criminals and abusers and greater support for victims.

Deputy Farrell said, “But, since January 2020, Sinn Féin has produced one document of less than 20 pages on its website – and this was specific to Dublin alone.

“In the same period, Sinn Féin has repeatedly failed to support the annual retention of the Offences Against the State Acts and its party leader has faced questions over her links with convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall.

“Sinn Féin’s so-called ‘policy document’ is mainly a collection of policies already championed and implemented by Minister McEntee and Fine Gael in government, including:

• Re-investing the proceeds of crime as seized by the Criminal Assets through the Community Safety Innovation Fund established by Minister McEntee
• Investing record levels in Youth Diversion Programmes
• Criminalising the grooming of children into a life of crime
• Tougher laws to tackle the use of scrambler bikes
• The landmark Zero Tolerance plan to introduce tougher laws for abusers, change attitudes and develop more refuge spaces

Deputy Farrell said, “Fine Gael has a proud record of law and order in the Department of Justice, including helping our Gardaí tackle the gangland thugs and transnational gangs.

“Just this week we saw the huge success of our brave Gardaí, Defence Forces, Revenue and other international partners with a massive drugs bust.

“This follows the coalition built by An Garda Síochána to take down the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang. Fine Gael justice ministers have helped establish a network of liaison Garda Liaison posts around the world to increase the global footprint of An Garda Síochána to tackle these gangs.

“And gangland killings have fallen to zero so far this year.

“Sinn Féin have no ideas and credibility on law and order and the public knows they cannot be trusted with the keys to the Department of Justice or oversight of An Garda Síochána.

“The only original proposal Sinn Féin make in their document is that they would implement the training model for An Garda Síochána. Politicians have no place setting out how members of An Garda Síochána should be trained.

“That is a matter for Gardaí and policing experts themselves and we only have to look to the Metropolitan Police to see how substandard training can have a hugely negative impact on a police force.”

“We are also increasing and accelerating recruitment in An Garda Síochána after a Covid enforced pause.  We are on track to have between 700 and 800 new recruits into the college in 2023.

“The record levels of investment has allowed over 12,000 mobility devices being provided to front-line Gardaí; the largest fleet of vehicles in the organisation’s history, increased welfare and mental health supports, and a new, more practical operational uniform.”

Ends