Taoiseach and Minister McEntee meet Garda Commissioner
- Foilsithe: 12 Aibreán 2024
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
The Taoiseach Simon Harris met with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris today to discuss a range of key policing, crime and road safety issues.
Accompanied by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, the Taoiseach was briefed in detail by Commissioner Harris on Garda recruitment and retention, and measures to keep gardai safe including the roll-out of body cameras and facial recognition technology.
Road safety was also discussed.
The Taoiseach said:
“I had a good meeting with the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister McEntee today to discuss a number of important issues.
“We discussed garda recruitment and retention, road safety and the roll-out of body cameras to gardai.
“As Taoiseach, I am committed to supporting An Garda Síochána in their work.”
After the meeting, Minister McEntee said:
“This was a very valuable opportunity for the Taoiseach to hear first-hand about all the good work the Gardai are doing to keep our streets and communities safe.
"We discussed road safety and the significant role that Gardai play in enforcement, and we also spoke about the upcoming introduction of bodycams, our plans for further recruitment and our absolute determination to make sure our Gardai have all the tools they need to fight crime and bring criminals to justice.”
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said:
“Today's meeting with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice was very positive and productive.
“A range of pressing operational matters were discussed, as well as important organisational matters such as the recruitment and retention of Gardai and Garda staff.
“In addition, current and future policing and national security trends were also discussed.”
Notes
The government's Road Safety Strategy 2021 - 2030 launched in December 2021.The primary aim of the strategy is to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50% by 2030.
The Roads Policing division of An Garda Síochána has developed detailed operation plans for the coming months which include:
- a significant focus on weekends – when we know a higher proportion of fatalities happen
- late night checkpoints, including Mandatory Intoxication Checks (MITs) – we know that at nighttime a higher number of people may take the risk of drinking and driving
- a focus on locations which account for higher rates of collisions, including through the use of GoSafe vans
While the Department of Transport lead on road safety legislation, it is the role of An Garda Síochána to monitor, detect and enforce Road Safety legislation.
Funding provided by the government under Budget 2024 will allow for the recruitment of new Gardaí, which will increase the number of frontline Gardaí, and allow for the expansion of specialist units such as the Roads Policing Unit, as the Commissioner deems appropriate.