Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-15
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. Deputy Ó Murchú was first in terms of antisocial behaviour and a multi-agency approach in County Louth. I agree with the Deputy that the most effective response is a multi-agency response. I support the drug partnerships approach that we had in earlier periods. The local community safety partnership has been effective. It is working in certain locations but we need to look at further initiatives in terms of community-based partnerships on the ground that are well resourced by the State. That is a view I have. I am advocating that from my position as Taoiseach and from talking to the Ministers concerned.
I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising the issue of Grace's law. It is extremely distressing and unacceptable that the Deputy and the people he represents are witnessing appalling activity by individuals using scramblers who are recklessly endangering life, causing the loss of life and so forth. I accept the rationale behind the Deputy's call for statutory indemnity to be introduced to protect members of An Garda Síochána who reasonably try to stop this activity. I do not think it is acceptable that a garda should be prosecuted if he or she is endeavouring to stop people endangering the lives of others through the illegal and reckless use of scramblers. The Minister for justice is bringing forward some form of review of the legislation in this area. This is a very important issue because if something is not done, the potential is that we will paralyse the Garda in terms of protecting people. I will talk to the Minister for justice. I know he is minded to do something in this area in light of recent court cases. I will liaise back with Deputy Brabazon on this.
I heard what Deputy Tóibín had to say. In the first instance, C70 requests made very regularly. About 140 were issued last year. Last week, a request was made with a view to calling in the Army to tow big lorries and trucks away from vital critical infrastructure. I do not know whether the Deputy condemns or agrees with the blockading of an oil refinery. I saw his posts all week. He supported the blockade of the oil refinery-----

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-15