Fianna Fáil has today launched a plan to tackle crime and keep communities safe.
Launching the policy document today, Minister James Browne said everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, in their community, on our streets and on public transport. Central to this is public confidence in a garda force that is sufficiently resourced to tackle crime at all levels, and public confidence in a justice system that punishes offenders.
He said, “We cannot continue to police our streets on overtime. Fianna Fáil will expand the Garda force by 5000, the largest expansion ever in the history of the An Garda Síochána and ensure members have the equipment and technology they need to apprehend criminals and the powers they need to put criminals behind bars.''
As a society, we must work collectively to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. If returned to Government, Fianna Fáil will enact a Bill to establish a Domestic Violence Register. The Bill, developed by Fiona O'Loughlin with Jason Poole, is known as Jennie's Law and would create a register that would give the Gardaí the power to inform somebody, when asked, if their partner has a violent history.
O’Loughlin said, “I am proud to have worked on this Bill with Jason, who has been campaigning for a Domestic Violence Register since his sister Jennifer, was killed by her ex-partner Gavin Murphy in April 2021.
“The importance of Jennie's Law cannot be understated. The existence of a Domestic Violence Register could have prevented the murder of Jennifer as it would have meant that she would have been aware of her ex-partner’s history of domestic violence."
Fianna Fáil is committed to a criminal justice system that respects the rights of the accused but also one that meets the needs of victims.
“Too often, victims feel that the criminal justice system is weighted too heavily in favour of the accused," said Jim O'Callaghan. "Fianna Fáil is committed to building a victim-centred criminal justice system and strengthening our bail laws to ensure that Courts will refuse Bail if an accused is likely to commit another serious offence on bail.''
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