New laws needed to crackdown on online intimidation of Gardaí – Kyne / Dlíthe nua de dhíth chun srian a chur le himeaglú ar líne ar na Gardaí – Kyne

Stronger protections are needed to protect members of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, including new measures to penalise those who target them online, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Leader of the Seanad, Seán Kyne, who is Fine Gael’s candidate in the Galway West bye-election said, “Gardaí put themselves in harms’ way every single day to protect communities, both here in Galway and around the country.

“The idea that they, and their families, can be targeted and harassed online is completely unacceptable, and the Seanad should say so clearly. We need new policies to penalise this behaviour – for both Gardai and members of the Defence Forces. These are men and women who put themselves on the frontline to protect the State and we need to ensure we listen to the concerns they have and act.”

The Private Members’ Motion from Fine Gael’s Senators calls for the Upper House to formally condemn threats made against Garda members and the targeting of their families online, amid growing concern about the harassment of frontline personnel on social media platforms.

“In Galway, we know how important visible, well-resourced policing is to community safety.

“That’s why this motion before Leinster House on Tuesday is also calling for a clear and consistent pursuit-driving policy to ensure the gardai know what they can do when pursuing criminals.

“We also want them to have a separate licence for on-duty driving to ensure it does not impact personal or familial life, and for the establishment of a permanent, full-time Public Order Unit.

“Our Gardaí deserve the right structures and resources to do their jobs effectively. We have listened to frontline members of the force, and I know Minister O’Callaghan has too, and we are all committed to acting,” said Senator Kyne.

The motion recognises the significant investment the Government has made in An Garda Síochána in recent years, with overall funding increasing by almost 50pc since 2020 to over €2.74 billion in 2026.

It welcomes a range of recent reforms including the increase in the maximum recruitment age from 35 to 50, increased penalties of up to 12 years’ imprisonment for attacks on Gardaí and frontline workers, and the roll-out of body-worn cameras.

The motion notes that Garda numbers are expected to reach 15,000 within the next year, the highest in the history of the State, with ongoing work to increase intake capacity at the Garda College to 250 trainees per intake and a target of over 600 Reserve members this year.

Senator Kyne also paid tribute to the 90 members of An Garda Síochána who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

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Tá cosaintí níos láidre de dhíth chun baill den Gharda Síochána agus de na hÓglaigh a chosaint, chomh maith le bearta nua chun pionós a gearradh orthu siúd a dhíríonn orthu ar líne, a dúirt Seanadóir de chuid Fhine Gael.

Dúirt Ceannaire an tSeanaid, Seán Kyne, atá ina iarrthóir ag Fine Gael i bhfothoghchán Ghaillimh Thiar, “Cuireann na Gardaí iad féin i mbaol chuile lá chun pobail a chosaint, anseo i nGaillimh agus ar fud na tíre.

“Níl sé ceart ná cóir go mbeadh daoine ag díriú ar na Gardaí, nó ar a dteaghlaigh, le ciapadh ar líne. Caithfidh an Seanad seasamh an-soiléir a thógáil ina choinne sin. Tá polasaithe nua de dhíth orainn chun pionós a gearradh as an iompar seo – don Gharda Síochána agus do na hÓglaigh araon. Is fir agus mná iad seo atá ar an líne thosaigh ag cosaint an Stáit. Ní mór dúinn éisteacht lena n-imní agus beart a dhéanamh dá réir.”

Sa Thairiscint Comhaltaí Príobháideacha seo ó Sheanadóirí Fhine Gael, iarrtar ar an Teach Uachtarach seasamh go láidir in aghaidh bagairtí ar na Gardaí agus ar a dteaghlaigh ar líne. Tá imní mhór ann faoi láthair faoin gciapadh atá á dhéanamh ar oibrithe líne thosaigh ar na meáin shóisialta.

“I nGaillimh, is eol dúinn chomh tábhachtach is atá póilíneacht fheiceálach, dea-mhaoinithe do shábháilteacht an phobail.”

“Sin é an fáth go bhfuil an tairiscint seo os comhair Theach Laighean Dé Máirt ag éileamh polasaí tóraíochta soiléir comhsheasmhach, ionas go mbeidh a fhios ag na Gardaí go díreach cad is féidir leo a dhéanamh agus iad sa tóir ar choirpigh.

“Ba mhaith linn freisin go mbeadh ceadúnas tiomána faoi leith acu don obair, ionas nach gcuirfidh sé isteach ar a saol pearsanta ná ar a dteaghlaigh, agus go mbunófaí Aonad Ord Poiblí buan, lánaimseartha.

“Tá na struchtúir agus na hacmhainní cearta tuillte ag ár gcuid Gardaí chun a gcuid oibre a dhéanamh go héifeachtach. Táimid tar éis éisteacht leo siúd atá ar an líne thosaigh sa bhfórsa, agus tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an tAire O’Callaghan tar éis an rud céanna a dhéanamh. Tá rún daingean againn go léir beart a dhéanamh,” a dúirt an Seanadóir Kyne.

Aithnítear sa tairiscint an infheistíocht shuntasach atá déanta ag an Rialtas sa Gharda Síochána le blianta beaga anuas, agus an maoiniú iomlán méadaithe thall is abhus 50% ó 2020 go breis agus €2.74 billiún in 2026.

Cuirtear fáilte sa tairiscint roimh roinnt athruithe atá déanta le déanaí, lena n-áirítear an t-ardú ar an uasaois earcaíochta ó 35 go 50, pionóis níos déine de suas le 12 bhliain príosúin as ionsaithe ar na Gardaí agus ar oibrithe líne thosaigh, agus tabhairt isteach na gceamaraí corpchaite.

Tugtar le fios sa tairiscint go bhfuiltear ag súil go mbainfidh líon na nGardaí 15,000 amach laistigh den chéad bhliain eile, an líon is airde sa Stát riamh. Tá obair ar siúl freisin chun níos mó spáis a dhéanamh i gColáiste na nGardaí do 250 traenálaí nua gach uair, agus táthar ag díriú ar bhreis is 600 ball den Chúltaca a bheith ann i mbliana.

Thug an Seanadóir Kyne ómós freisin don 90 Garda a fuair bás i mbun dualgais.