Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 November 2022
289. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of members of An Garda Síochána who were subject to assaults in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56068/22]
View answerI condemn, in the strongest possible way, any attacks made on members of An Garda Síochána and other frontline services.
We are all immensely grateful to members of our police service for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society.
Attacks on members of An Garda Síochána not only injure the victims but communities as a whole with an attack on Gardaí an attack on the safety of all of us. It is imperative that frontline workers are protected in carrying out their work and that the law reflects and responds to the situations in which they find themselves.
The unprecedented €2.14 billion allocated to An Garda Síochána under Budget 2023 demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Gardaí have the resources they need to carry out their vital service. This includes the provision of €6 million for new ballistic vests to protect frontline Gardaí.
While the criminal law in this area is being kept under ongoing review, there are a range of robust legislative provisions available to the Garda authorities in circumstances where threats or assaults are made against Gardaí.
Any assault causing harm on any person is an offence under section 3 of the Non–Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. A person convicted of such an offence would be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a maximum fine of €2,500 or both.
I have signalled my intention to increase the maximum penalty available for this offence to 10 year imprisonment, in amendments to the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is currently before the Oireachtas.
Furthermore, an assault on a member of An Garda Síochána, a prison officer, a member of the fire brigade, ambulance personnel, or a member of the Defence Forces would constitute an offence under section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.
A person convicted of such an offence would be liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of €5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. A person convicted of such an offence on indictment would be liable to a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, or both. The latter penalty was increased from a maximum term of 5 years in 2006.
The table below, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of Gardaí who have been assaulted while on active duty in the State in 2021 and to date in 2022.
|
YEAR |
2021 |
2022* |
Grand Total |
|
Totals |
241 |
196 |
437 |
* Information provided is taken from PULSE as of 14 October 2022.
