An Garda Síochána: Motion Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-13 ============================================================ Noel O'Donovan (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach No garda and no family member should be targeted or intimidated for doing their job. Respect for gardaí is fundamental to the rule of law in this country. At the same time, gardaí must feel protected in how they carry out their duties. That is why proposals such as a separate driving licence classification for gardaí on duty deserves serious consideration. Members should not face uncertainty when making decisions in the course of protecting the public. Clarity around pursuit driving and operational policy is essential, and we should legislate if necessary for garda safety and public safety. It is deeply concerning that gardaí have found themselves before the courts for actions taken in the line of duty. In one such situation, a garda responding to reckless use of a scrambler by an individual masked and acting unlawfully took action in the interests of public safety only later to face legal consequences. What message does this send? Gardaí are required to make split-second decisions. They do so to protect the public, prevent harm and uphold the law. These decisions are made in real time and not in hindsight. Of course, accountability matters; it always must. So too does common sense. When gardaí act in good faith to protect the public, they should have the backing of the system not uncertainty about whether they will face legal consequences for doing their job. If that balance is lost, hesitation follows. That hesitation in policing can come at a cost to human safety. In Cork South-West, we need more gardaí. Law and order is not a political slogan but a necessity of everyday life. Our farming families, fishing communities, tourism sector and local businesses all depend on a strong sense of safety and respect for law. People want to know that if something goes wrong, there is a system and somebody there who will respond with confidence. This is not being heavy handed; it is about being clear. Respect for the law must be matched by respect for those who enforce it and that is our duty as legislators. Like many families across our land, mine continues to have close ties with An Garda Síochána. I see the professionalism, integrity and commitment that gardaí bring to their everyday work. They deserve clarity in the law, support from us as leaders and confidence from the communities they serve. Right now, there is a growing sense that this balance is not where it should be and that the system is asking gardaí to act but not always standing by them when they do so. That needs to be addressed. When preparing today's speech, I reflected on an incident I was involved in in New Ross where perpetrators rammed a Garda car after committing a burglary. We combed the district for a number of hours afterwards and we happened to come across the car. I was the driver in the car and I was accompanied by an observer. As the car approached us and the driver saw that it was coming towards a Garda car, it immediately took off. I pursued the car, as was my duty. Continuing on after the car, we came to the site where the car had crashed into a ditch. My first thought was a fear that I might have caused the crash. I had a fear for the safety of the driver and the occupant. Thankfully, they had left the scene and were apprehended afterwards. However, that is the fear that serving members of An Garda Síochána have when making decisions as to whether to pursue and how to act. We have to protect gardaí in the course of their work. I thank the Minister of State for being here. I welcome and support the motion and the progress it reflects. However, we must continue to go further, not just to invest in An Garda Síochána but to truly support the organisation, the ordinary men and women of the organisation, our family members, to ensure that every garda who puts on the uniform feels it is a job worth doing and to ensure that the communities across Ireland feel safe, supported and protected. I finish by acknowledging my former colleagues, those serving today and those who served before them, including the 90 members who lost their lives in the line of duty. Their service deserves not just recognition but our continued support. When An Garda Síochána is strong, supported and trusted, our entire country is safer. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-13/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:56+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-05-13