Garda needs more personnel to manage public order

A new report from the Policing Authority highlights the need for the Garda, Ireland's police force, to improve its policies and procedures after riots in Dublin in 2023. The report emphasizes that having enough Garda officers on the ground is critical for safely managing protests and public order situations. Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan shared the report with his Cabinet and noted an increase in public order incidents across the country since the Dublin riots. In response, the Garda have made several changes. They have trained 1,500 officers in public order policing and introduced new tools, including water cannons and body armor. The Garda have also increased their presence in Dublin and extended overtime to ensure more officers are visible. Additionally, they are considering the use of tasers and expanding their dog unit. So far, there have been 68 arrests related to the riots, with cases ongoing in the courts. The report is critical of the Garda's slow progress in implementing previous recommendations. Less than half of the recommendations from a 2019 report on public order policing have been fully completed. Some were modified, while others remain unaddressed. The report also suggests that the Garda should have a dedicated training facility rather than relying on military facilities. It states that fear of being reported for misconduct does not significantly affect officers' decisions on using force. Instead, officers mainly consider whether they have enough colleagues present to handle potential violence when deciding to use force.