Helen McEntee refuses to resign in wake of Dublin riots
Helen McEntee. Picture: David Young/PA Wire
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has asserted that she will not and has not offered her resignation after violent riots broke out in Dublin city on Thursday night.
Up to seven vehicles were set on fire during violence in the city that occurred in the wake of a knife attack on Thursday afternoon.
Ms McEntee was speaking to reporters at Government Buildings ahead of a meeting of ministers.
Asked by multiple journalists if she had offered her resignation to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Ms McEntee said: "I have not and I will not.
“I am absolutely committed to my work in making sure that I support the gardaí and the commissioner in responding to these mindless thugs.”
She added: "The gardaí will have every resource that they need made available to them to continue to keep order in our city."
Ms McEntee said 34 people had been arrested yesterday and 32 of them appeared before the courts on Friday.
At a meeting of Government Ministers this evening, Ms McEntee indicated that there are over 6,000 hours worth of CCTV footage from the riots, which Gardaí are currently trawling through.
Asked about the calls for her resignation, Ms McEntee said that she was happy to stand over the record of Fine Gael on law and order.
Earlier, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called for Ms McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to resign, saying she had no confidence in them.
"The gardaí have my full support but given the catastrophic operational failures last night, I have no confidence in the Justice Minister and no confidence in the Garda Commissioner."
In a statement, Ms McDonald said that the “cold truth” is that gardaí lost control of Dublin city centre, following tensions that erupted following the attack on three children and a woman in Parnell Square.
Ms McEntee said she is happy to debate law and order issues with Ms McDonald.
Responding to Ms McDonald’s call for her and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to resign, Ms McEntee said: “I have full confidence in the Garda Commissioner.
“If Sinn Féin wish to debate law and order, if Sinn Féin wish to debate how we can support the gardaí I have no problem in standing over Fine Gael’s record of law and order, Fine Gael’s record of supporting members of An Garda Síochána.
“I do not believe Sinn Fáin can stand over their record.”
