John Joe O'Connell

Now, with the current situation we have, and recently, as it's well publicised, we had a member of our own association was convicted before the courts for trying to tackle this exact subject that we're talking about this morning.

And that member found themselves, their own personal driving licence, disqualified for two years and a fine.

And that has a knock-on effect then on their private life as well, naturally enough, being able to get to work, being able to bring their kids to school, be able to do everything.

So we have a big, our members have, I won't say they will not stand back from dealing with protecting life and property because that's what they sign up to do in this job.

But just we do not have the proper tools to deal with these scramblers, as Shane was talking about in his area, trying to reclaim the space because it is quite chaotic and our members are then going to go to tackle these are definitely, it's a real situation such as to fear in their minds of losing their driving licence and possibly their liberty at risk.

Oh, no way.

We're not looking for members of the Garda Síochána to rip up the roads and throw the rules of the road out.

But for the purpose of pursuit training, we're looking for, and we're not hiding behind this at all, we're looking for our members, when they're involved in pursuits, that there's a higher legal threshold for them in relation to the road traffic.

legislation.

Because how can we have our members with the same threshold as David Culler trying for his house to work, as when John Joe Connell is behind him, the same threshold for John Joe Connell when he's in a pursuit with scramblers wherever it is in the country.

So that's what we're looking for.

We're not looking to be exempt from everything, but we're looking for a higher threshold, legal threshold there.

Oh, yeah.

Road traffic legislation is only a part of our toolbox as members of Angarda Síochána.

Like any other offences, we deal with it.

But it's a highly dangerous and volatile situation out there, particularly with these scramblers.

And we have had members, our members, members of the public injured and worse, fatally injured.

And we have our own members seriously injured and trying to deal with these tugs on the road, to be honest about it.

So, look, we have had quotes from the Commissioner and the Minister for Justice that are going to support us.

And the Minister said, after Grace's Law was implemented, he'll provide whatever resources are necessary.