asked the Minister for Justice if it is intended in the proposed Criminal Justice Bill to give the Garda statutory powers of entry to a public or private meeting held in either a public or private place, if such entry is requested by the sponsors of such meeting for the purpose of preventing breaches of the peace or preserving order.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Power of Entry to Meetings.
38.
The Deputy appears to misunderstand the position. The Garda Síochána clearly have a right, like any other citizen, to enter a public place, and likewise have a right, like any other citizen, to enter a private building if invited to do so by those in charge.
I assume, however, that what the Deputy means to suggest is that the Garda Síochána should be obliged to undertake the job of maintaining order at public and private meetings if their sponsors ask them to do so. As to that, I am of the opinion that the present position is reasonable and satisfactory.
Could the Minister say what the present position is?
In what circumstances?
Say, in a brawl at a dance?
As far as I know, the Garda are generally on duty in the vicinity of the dancehall and in the first place, there is a duty on the dancehall owner under the Public Dancehalls Act to maintain order in his dancehall. If the situation gets out of hand, the Garda are invariably called in to do whatever is necessary.
Is the Minister aware that at a meeting held here last year the Garda authorities were approached and refused to co-operate? The people concerned then informed the authorities in advance that they expected trouble would arise at this particular meeting. Trouble did arise and the Garda authorities refused to intervene.
Was that a Fine Gael convention?
No. It might have been at the election of the Taoiseach or a Fianna Fáil meeting. Actually, it was a Language Movement meeting. They notified the Garda that they required protection.
What language?
The Anti-Language Movement.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Byrne gave the particulars last year and said the people concerned asked the Garda to intervene but they refused to do so. They were there but refused to intervene——
As usual the Deputy's allegations are incorrect.
——under ministerial instructions.
Question No. 39.