Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay South, Jim O'Callaghan, has said he and his party colleagues are very conscious of the effect that criminal activity such as drug dealing in public spaces, and anti-social behaviour can have on the quality of life for local communities and are determined to tackle it.
Deputy O'Callaghan was speaking following a meeting of a Fianna Fáil Sub-Committee on Justice of which he is chair.
He said, "A dangerous level of openly criminal activity and unprovoked violence is now being seen in Dublin on a regular basis, particularly at night time.
"Such incidents are completely unacceptable. We want all people to feel safe and to be able to enjoy Dublin city and its surrounds for the vibrant, friendly capital it is for the most part.
"There is a whole-of-government response required with input from various Departments but it is clear that policing is a central element. I firmly believe that high visibility policing is crucial to ensuring that people are both safe and feel safe. If people are openly dealing in drugs on the streets or involved in violent assaults they need to be arrested and prosecuted. We cannot be selective about enforcing some laws and ignoring others.
"It's worth noting that Budget 2023 included a €5m increase in the overtime budget for An Garda Síochána to over €100m. I look forward to liaising with my colleagues in Government to ensure high visibility policing is prioritised in order to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in our city.''
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