Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Matt Carthy TD, has said that Minister Jim O’Callaghan must address the concerns around public safety in Dublin in the Dáil.

Deputy Carthy said that following a fatal stabbing in Dublin over the weekend and other criminal incidents over previous weeks there is an urgent need to increase garda visibility in Dublin city centre.

Teachta Carthy said:

“There is an urgent need to address concerns around public safety in Dublin following a fatal stabbing on South Anne Street over the weekend and a number of other serious criminal incidents in recent weeks.

“Right now people do not feel safe in Dublin city centre. As anyone who lives or works in the city will tell you, this situation has gotten worse over recent years. It has not been a priority for the government.

“There is a problem with a lack of garda visibility in the city centre and no amount of tougher laws on the carrying of knives will work if we don’t have the gardai to enforce them.

“Minister Jim O’Callaghan must address the Dáil in relation to the growing concerns about public safety in Dublin city centre.

“There needs to be a plan to tackle a range of issues that are contributing to the sense that Dublin city centre is not safe – that includes garda visibility but it also includes planning, design, dereliction, drug use and preventing young people from becoming involved in anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. We need to make Dublin, our capital city, a safe place to live, to work and to visit.”