News

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 […]

Overcrowding in our youth detention system must be urgently addressed, but it is essential that we move away from simply expanding detention facilities, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, the party’s Justice spokesperson, said: “While the recent crackdown on the ‘Lucky Dip’ gang by An Garda Síochána is welcome, the root cause […]

There’s no time to waste when it comes to addressing appalling conditions in our prison system, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, the party’s Justice spokesperson, said: “The conditions described in the Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) report are horrendous – some prisoners are forced to sleep on floors and […]

It is unacceptable that legislative loopholes are allowing abusers to retraumatise their victims, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Speaking on the claims by Sonas Housing, Deputy Gannon, the party’s Justice spokesperson, said: “It’s a gross miscarriage of justice that perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence can access details on the whereabouts of their […]

Increase in weapons offences, burglaries and kidnappings comes as no surprise when the Minister for Justice talks tough on crime without taking action, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, the party’s Justice spokesperson, said: “Today’s CSO report paints a picture of a policing strategy flailing aimlessly in the face of rising crime. […]

The Social Democrats have today announced a strategy to tackle violence in Dublin city. Gary Gannon TD, who represents Dublin Central and is the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “As violence increases on our streets, this government seems to see crime as something to be responded to after the fact. “This approach has been a demonstrable […]

Today’s admission by Jim O’Callaghan that he does not spend a huge amount of time looking at online content was an extraordinary comment for a Minister for Justice to make, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon. Deputy Gannon, who is a TD for Dublin Central and the party’s justice spokesperson, said: “Minister O’Callaghan was […]

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has strongly condemned today’s violence in Coolock. “There is no place in society for the type of despicable criminal behaviour we witnessed today on Dublin’s northside. “Again, we have seen hysteria, fear and hatred whipped up over proposed accommodation for asylum seekers, leading to attacks on gardai and workers, as […]

The circumstances under which taxi licences are revoked and suspended now urgently need to be clarified  News that taxi driver Raymond Shorten is facing sentencing for the rape of a child – mere weeks after he was convicted of raping two young women in his cab – is shocking and raises questions for the taxi […]

Recent case of rapist taxi driver is every woman’s worst nightmare  The Government must move to assure the public that the taxi regulator has sufficient powers to identify and disqualify taxi drivers who are convicted of serious sexual offences, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. “In the Dáil today, the Tánaiste failed to respond […]