Fine Gael proposes electronic tagging of sex offenders while Fianna Fáil calls for public transport police force
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Fine Gael is proposing to introduce electronic tagging for sex offenders, as Fianna Fáil call for the introduction of a dedicated public transport police force.
Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are to launch their proposals on crime and justice on Friday morning.
Fine Gael is to call for all gardaí to be given access to facial recognition technology (FRT) through bodycams. In particular, it is calling for live FRT to be used in cases of terrorism, national security, and missing persons.
Fianna Fáil has also backed the use of FRT, particularly highlighting that it should be used to trawl through child sexual abuse images and to monitor social media to prevent criminal activity being planned.
On the use of electronic tags on sex offenders, a Fine Gael party source indicated that it is aimed at preventing re-offending.
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Sources in the party have also indicated that Fine Gael is to legislate for new powers for gardaí to obtain passwords for electronic devices of criminals.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil is to promise the introduction of new legislation that would force social media firms to provide information that they have around the sale of illegal drugs on their platforms.
Fianna Fáil is due to promise the recruitment of a further 5,000 gardaí over five years, with a medium-term plan to bring the strength of An Garda Síochána to 20,000.
Fine Gael is to push slightly more, calling for 6,000 gardaí to be recruited in five years, as well as the introduction of a second garda training college.
Both parties have committed to increasing the garda training allowance, with Fine Gael in particular promising to double it to €708 a week.
Fianna Fáil is proposing the creation of a standalone transport police force, who would deal with crime and anti-social behaviour on the public transport network.
A new mandatory minimum sentence would be introduced for individuals who assault emergency workers while working, the party has said.
Fianna Fáil has also called for knife crime laws to be strengthened, which would provide tougher sentences for anyone convicted. It is also calling for the delivery of 150 new refuge places to be expedited.
In recent days, there has been a focus on Fianna Fáil’s proposals to decriminalise cannabis for personal use, with Fine Gael attacking the plans.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris rubbished the plan earlier this week, saying that he only wanted to see a move towards a health-led approach.
“Do we really want to move to a point in Irish society to a point where we’re decriminalising drug taking? Not sure, and I certainly don’t,” Mr Harris said.