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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Anti-scrambler unit

Summary

Deputy Donnelly called for a properly resourced anti-scrambler unit and said current enforcement is inadequate. The Tánaiste said he would ask the Justice Minister to consult Garda management and reply directly.

My community and many others throughout the State are being terrorised by scramblers every day, driving on our roads, our paths and in our parks. I have consistently called for the establishment of an anti-scrambler unit that is trained and resourced to deal with this scourge. The Minister for justice refuses to do it and kicks the can down to senior gardaí, who then kick the can back to him. I will give one example. Drones are used in conjunction with anti-scrambler units by British police. An Garda Síochána has had a unit trained since 2023, but it will not use it because of a lack of legislative clarity. However, I can get a coffee or fast food delivered in the same area by a private company. I find it bizarre, at a time when our communities are being terrorised by scramblers, that a unit has not been established here. We have the resources. We know it operates in Britain. We know it works, but we do not have such a unit here. It is time to ask the Minister for justice to sit down with senior gardaí to establish an anti-scrambler unit, sort out this legislative clarity and get dealing with this problem. What is happening at the moment is not working.

Comment on this
Simon Harris The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I thank Deputy Donnelly for raising what is a serious issue for his constituents, based on what he has told me. From memory, I think there was some legislative work done on this in the previous Oireachtas. I need to refresh my memory. I will certainly ask the Minister for justice to seek the views of Garda management and respond to the Deputy directly.

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