Prioritising band-aid measures while ignoring the deeper issues in policing will not address the Garda recruitment and retention crisis, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon was commenting as Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan prepares to bring a report to Cabinet detailing changes to public order policing in the wake of the 2023 Dublin riots.
“The Dublin riots – when a violent mob attacked our city, assaulting more than 60 gardaí and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake – was one of the darkest days in recent memory. The response to that night should have been a comprehensive plan to strengthen both frontline policing and our ability to tackle the forces of chaos that incited the violence in the first place.
“Instead, the government has prioritised band-aid measures while continuing to ignore the deeper crisis in policing. Yes, increased public order resources are welcome – Dublin needs visible, well-equipped gardaí on the streets. But where is the real plan to recruit and retain officers long-term?
“Scores of rural stations no longer have an assigned garda, morale in the force is plummeting, and community policing is being hollowed out. The government’s headline target of adding 5,000 new gardaí over five years is little more than fantasy when officers are retiring or resigning in record numbers.
“While Minister O’Callaghan will proudly report to Cabinet on new vehicles and body-worn cameras, he has done nothing to tackle the high-profile bad actors who used online platforms to incite that night of chaos. The people who spread racist conspiracy theories and mobilised a mob to attack our gardaí and our city have faced little to no consequences.
“The government’s failure to act on this front makes a mockery of any claim that they are serious about preventing future riots.
“A functioning justice system doesn’t just react to disorder – it prevents it. That means properly resourcing community policing, tackling recruitment and retention failures, and holding those who incite violence online accountable. Anything less is just firefighting while the deeper problems continue to burn.”
March 19, 2025