Government pledges extra €5m for Garda overtime
The Government has today agreed to spend an extra €5m to fund garda overtime.
The announcement comes in the wake of two fatal gangland shootings in Dublin in recent days.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald met with the Garda Commissioner earlier and has denied that there was an intelligence failure in preventing the recent attacks.
Minister Fitzgerald said that that gardaí are facing ruthless criminal gangs.
"Obviously we have ruthless gangs intent on getting out there," she said.
"We have a cycle now of revenge and retaliation that we're seeing.
"The Gardaí, their intelligence and security units, of course, will do everything possible to prevent further loss of life, to interrupt this cycle,
"They will get the supports that they need to do this, but we are dealing with ruthless criminal gangs."
Earlier today, Garda Representative Association president Dermot O'Brien said that that overtime is being used to disguise an ongoing staff shortage.
“Overtime is being thrown at the likes of these incidents and it masks over the fact that we don’t have enough people on the ground,” he said.
According to the Department of Justice, a dedicated new Armed Support Unit for Dublin will also be established, comprising 55 Gardai. This new Unit will operate in addition to the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
At today’s meeting, the Minister was briefed by the Commissioner on An Garda Siochána’s assessment of the current situation and their operational response.
The Minister was assured that An Garda Siochána are deploying all capabilities and resources at their disposal in terms of tackling organised crime and delivering a "whole-of-organisation operational response".
The Minister stated: “This violent feud is unprecedented in its audacity.
“The gangs show no regard for public safety. The events we have seen are outrageous.
“They are unacceptable.
“An Garda Siochána has the fullest support of the Government and I. Any and all resources will be provided.
“We will sustain and intensify saturation policing in Dublin City, including multiple rolling checkpoints and patrols.”
“We will establish a dedicated new Armed Support Unit for Dublin, in addition to the ERU.”
The Minister condemned last night’s murder. She stated: “I deplore the evil and sinister cycle of gangland violence that has erupted in our capital.
“But we will not let this cycle of violence distract us from what we must do and have been doing in seeking to disrupt gangland crime.”
