Independent TD for Waterford, Matt Shanahan, has called on the Government to enlist the services of a reputable security company to conduct an audit on the security of several high-profile sites and buildings across the country. This follows Garda Commissioner Drew Harris’s decision to increase the threat level posed by violent political extremists from moderate to substantial, and a number of recent serious security breaches, including the ramming of gates at Dáil Éireann and Áras an Uachtaráin, the Dublin riots in November 2023, and the stabbing of Waterford priest and Army Chaplain Fr. Paul Murphy in August by a radicalised teenager.
“I have asked the Minister for Defence, through Parliamentary Questions, when the last security audit took place and whether considerations have been made to prepare for any potential riots or civil unrest that could occur in the future,” Deputy Shanahan said. “I was recently contacted by a staff member at one of Ireland’s busiest tourist sites who mentioned that while thousands of visitors pass through the doors each week, there is only one security guard, with no contingency plans or protections in place if a security breach were to happen. This is dangerously inadequate and far from being safe or appropriate.”
Deputy Shanahan stated that the Government needs to be “proactive” rather than “reactive” when it comes to the security of the country and its people.
“There’s no such thing as ‘neutral’ anymore when you see such divisiveness not only around the world but also on our own doorsteps,” Deputy Shanahan said. “The riots last November were simmering beneath the surface for some time, as evidenced by activity on platforms like Facebook and X. Yet, the response from Gardaí and other security personnel was slow, and as a result, the city centre erupted.”
Deputy Shanahan added that with an election on the horizon, a security audit of all Government buildings and Ireland’s tourist hotspots should be prioritised.
“Just because we’re not accustomed to the types of threats and attacks that major cities around the world have endured doesn’t mean they can’t happen here,” Deputy Shanahan said. “We are seeing more and more politicians receiving threats and abuse online, some of which is spilling over into real life, and that’s something that should be taken very seriously. I have no wish to scaremonger but I cannot see how we can remain complacent in the present environment so the question must be asked: are we doing enough to prepare for the substantial threats that Commissioner Harris has warned about?”