Sinn Féin side with the mob to create instability – Brophy

Sinn Féin have taken the side of the violent mob and rioters who wreaked havoc in our capital last week by seeking to create more instability, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Colm Brophy, who sits on the Oireachtas Justice Committee, was speaking ahead of the no confidence motion into Justice Minister Helen McEntee from Sinn Féin.

“At a time when the nation is looking to the State, Sinn Féin, as usual, is seeking to undermine the institutions of the State. It’s what they have always reverted to.

“Sinn Féin has joined with the thugs in wanting to see how much destruction and havoc they can cause to the administration of justice and the protection of our citizens in the run up to Christmas.

“Sinn Féin are more interested in sowing division than providing unity and stability. This is the party that still stands over murder and terrorism and takes donations and recruits criminals like Jonathan Dowdall.

“And now we have the leader of the party which stands over the murder of Gardaí and police and ringing up the Garda Commissioner and calling for his head.

“What will their motion achieve or the removal of the Minister and Commissioner?

“Sinn Féin have other business with the Garda Commissioner – they attacked him in 2020 for his honest assessment that the IRA Army Council still oversees the Provisional IRA and Sinn Féin with an overarching strategy.

“It is no wonder that Sinn Féin are now opportunistically trying to sow division and, in their terms – “take out” the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner.

“They can never be trusted with law and order in this country,” Deputy Brophy said.

“Minister McEntee has a strong law and order agenda which will see more Gardaí on our streets; tougher sentences and greater support for victims.

“Just this week, the Minister announced the early graduation of 151 new Gardaí on December 15^th, with a substantial cohort being deployed in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, from December 16^th.

“This will be the latest class to graduate from Templemore as Garda recruitment gains momentum and helps us build stronger, safer communities.

“Numbers in Templemore continue to increase, with between 700 and 800 new recruits entering the college this year. 135 trainees entered the training college in February, 154 entered in May, 174 entered in July, and another 177 entered the college last month, the largest intake since Covid.

“One more class is due into Templemore on December 27^th, putting us on course to have between 700 and 800 into the college this year.

“Budget 2024 provides for the recruitment of between 800 and 1,000 recruits next year.

“Minister McEntee also passed legislation to give Gardaí bodycams from next spring and will be bringing legislation to Cabinet before Christmas to provide Facial Recognition Technology – to help us catch the thugs and criminals who commit serious crimes like the riots we saw in Dublin,” Deputy Brophy said.