Clare’s Fine Gael Senator insists Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is the best candidate to hold the position and ensure public safety.
Sinn Féin is considering whether to put forward a motion of no confidence in the Minister, over what the party describes as a ‘lack of foresight’ and planning to prevent the Dublin riots.
The opposition has been leading calls for the Minister’s resignation since the events in Dublin last Friday.
The riots took place after a stabbing incident near a school in the capital earlier that day, in which three children and two adults were attacked, and one adult and one child reamin in a critical condition in hospital.
On Thursday night, a large mob had descended on Dublin City, with busses, Garda Vehicles and cars set alight, as well as a hotel used for direct provision and a Luas tram.
Shops were also looted and members of emergency services were assaulted, with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris ultimately describing the incident as ‘an event that couldn’t be foreseen driven by racist far right ideologies.’
Clare trained Mediator, Lisdoonvarna-based Theresa O’Donoghue believes the authorities response hasn’t been strong enough, saying vicious protests outside the Dáil in September should have been a wake up call.
Clare’s Fine Gael Senator meanwhile insists that Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is the best candidate to hold the position and ensure public safety.
A total of 48 arrests have been made in the city since Thursday and 32 people have since been charged.
Since the events of Thursday night, the government has allocated a further €4.4m to the Gardaí and is aiming to expedite legislation that would permit the use of facial recognition technology.
Sinn Fein has criticised the Justice Minister for her slow response following Friday’s incident, but Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway believes the opposition is simply using a major incident as a political football.
