Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
649. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has received any briefing from An Garda Síochána concerning the policing of the recent Whitegate refinery protests in County Cork, including public safety planning, use of force, deployment scale and inter-agency coordination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32752/26]
View answer651. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has requested or received any post-operation assessment from An Garda Síochána concerning the policing of the recent Whitegate refinery protests, including the adequacy of planning, medical preparedness, proportionality of enforcement action and use of force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32769/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 649 and 651 together.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes all operational policing matters. The Commissioner is independent in his functions under section 34 of the Act.
I can confirm that I was kept informed by An Garda Síochána of policing operations related to the recent protests and blockades, including the operation to lift the blockade at the Whitegate refinery.
As the Garda Commissioner stated in his public meeting with the Policing and Community Safety Authority in Midleton on 30 April, An Garda Síochána are undertaking an internal review of policing operations in response to the recent protests and blockades. This review will assess the approach taken and the lessons to be learned.
While the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for operational policing, I am assured that the Garda approach to policing protests is predicated on keeping people safe, preventing anti-social and criminal behaviour, and the management of traffic.
As Minister, I would like to acknowledge the very professional approach taken by An Garda Síochána in respect of recent protests and blockades. It is to be noted that notwithstanding the nature of the protests and blockades, there were no serious injuries or damage to property.
