Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, has said that today’s survey published by Dublin Chamber has highlighted once more the devastating effects that physical safety and security fears are having on Dublin businesses and their workers.

She said that the findings underline the need for a permanent and sustainable policing presence in Dublin city centre.

Teachta O’Reilly said:

“Today’s findings by the Dublin Chamber reinforce the concerns that have been relayed for a considerable amount of time now in our engagements with business groups, workers and their trade unions.

“This is not a knee-jerk reaction stemming from recent events, it is something that has been raised consistently for a long time, with Dublin Chamber adding that this issue has been of concern going back as far as 2019.

“While the unprecedented recent events, as well as incidents in the summer, have brought public safety and crime in the city centre into focus, many businesses have not felt safe – and have feared for the safety of their workers and customers – for a very long time.

“Fine Gael have been responsible for the Justice Department for 13 years and throughout this period, time and time again, they have failed to give An Garda Síochána the leadership, investment and support needed to keep our communities safe.

“Retailers have been consistently raising this alarm, but feel that their concerns have not been taken seriously by government.

“It is clear from Dublin Chamber’s report, as well as our own ongoing engagements with businesses and workers, that there has been an insufficient Garda presence on our streets, which has allowed crime to escalate unchallenged.

“We welcome that there has been an increased Garda presence in since the Dublin riots and that this will continue over the Christmas period.

“But it can’t just be for Christmas. The majority of the current increased patrols is due to Garda overtime, and it is clear that we need a more permanent and sustainable Garda presence on the streets of our capital city.

“We can’t have a situation where we go back to the way things were before in the new year. Unless a permanent solution is found, workers will continue to be put at risk, retailers will continue to lose tens of thousands in stock, and broader society will continue to suffer.

“In July, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Pa Daly, published our party’s proposals to tackle crime in Dublin. A Sinn Féin government would invest in policing to ensure communities can feel safe and protected.”