asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider extending the jurisdiction of the Garda Síochána to include all public parks to help curb the growing number of incidences of violence in these parks; and, if not, why.
108.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Policing of Parks.
107.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of assaults and/or robberies that have been committed in public parks in Dublin city in 1972 to date; and the number of prosecutions that have resulted therefrom.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.
The first question seems to imply that the garda cannot or do not enter public parks for the purpose of enforcing the criminal law. This is not correct. Not only do the ordinary powers of the Garda extend to public parks but, in the case of parks owned by the Dublin Corporation, they are given additional specific powers by the relevant bye-laws made by the corporation in 1966. Likewise the Garda have specific powers in respect of the Phoenix Park.
The number of assaults, robberies, et cetera, reported to the Garda as having been committed in public parks in the city from 1st January of this year to 8th June was ten. Prosecutions have already been brought in respect of eight of the ten.