'Absolutley crazy' gardaí can be only ones at riot without a camera, says Simon Harris

Michael Bolton

It is absolutely crazy that gardaí can turn up at a riot, and be the only ones there without a camera, according to Simon Harris.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education says legislation will be passed swiftly to provide every member of the force with a body-cam.

A proposal to introduce controversial facial recognition technology will also be brought forward by the Government this week.

Mr Harris believes An Garda Siochana must be given greater support.

"The basic premise here is that we need to free up guard time, we need to use technology to aid gardaí in their work.

"We also have to be very conscious, that criminals are indeed using technology now, and the idea that our gardaí would be excluded from using similar technologies would be a real problem."

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is condemning the 'outrageous thuggery' seen on Dublin city centre streets last week.

It is calling on workers to meet at the GPO at 1:00pm on Monday to denounce this riotous behaviour in a solemn and respectful way.

The ICTU also wants to show solidarity with the children and care worker attacked in Parnell Square last Thursday.

General Secretary Owen Reidy says they want to pay tribute to the workers who came upon the riots that night.

"To pay our solidarity and our respects to the first responders, the transport workers, the retail workers and the hospitality workers who have all been affected by this.

"It is also an opportunity for us to say that workers working in Dublin, wherever they are from, if they are born in Dublin, or from the four corners of the globe, that they are welcome, and to reject this violence."