Harris delivers battling defence of Justice Minister McEntee in maiden speech as Taoiseach

Having been the subject of intense scrutiny over her position as Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee and if she would retain that portfolio, Simon Harris delivered a battling defence of the Meath East TD's achievements in his maiden speech as Taoiseach last night.

Harris, freshly returned from Aras an Uachtarain with hs seal of office told the Dail he would be "energetic and laser-focused on delivery on housing, health and helping families, farmers, small businesses and on equality of opportunity for all and on empowering people with disabilities, on security and on exerting our influence in the world."

As he reached the portion of his speech on Justice, the 37-year-old fended off heckles from the opposition benches and said he would make law and order a priority under his leadership. He then delivered a stirring endorsement of Helen McEntee's achievements and backed her to continue "her momentum of delivering stronger, safer communities."

"A Cheann Comhairle, as you have heard me say, I intend to prioritise law and order and to work to make our streets safe and to end the scourge of antisocial behaviour in our communities.

"The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I have had many great conversations on this in recent days and weeks.

"Under her leadership, garda recruitment is strongly recovering after the pandemic, with 746 trainees entering Templemore. She has worked to negotiate the highest ever budget for the gardaí, more than 20 per cent higher than when this Government entered office for the first time in 2020.

"We have doubled the maximum sentence for assault causing harm to ten years. We have increased the sentence for conspiracy to murder from ten years to life. We have increased the sentence for assaulting a garda or an emergency worker from seven to 12 years.

At this point Independent Deputy Michael McNamara interjected: "There is nowhere to put them," before the Ceann Comhairle requested the Taoiseach be allowed to speak.

"In re-appointing Deputy McEntee as Minister for Justice," continued Harris, "I am working with her and tasking her to continue her momentum of delivering stronger, safer communities by continuing to fast track legislation to give judges new powers to make sure heinous criminals serve long sentences before they can ever be considered for release."

Deputy Michael McNamara wasn't finished:

"Released where?"

Harris: "We will bring in body cameras and up-to-date technology..."

McNamara: "Where are they going to serve the sentences?

An Ceann Comhairle:

"Let the Taoiseach speak without interruption, please.

The Taoiseach

"...to help gardaí carry out their duties.

McNamara: In the modular homes, is it?

Harris: "We will expand prison capacity, Deputy McNamara, and bring forward new measures to increase the penalties for knife crime and anti-social behaviour. We will give the Criminal Assets Bureau more powers to strip criminals of their assets more quickly. We will also work with our European partners to ensure a firm and fair migration system. This country is a welcoming one and knows the benefits of migration. However, Irish people want to know that the system is firm and fair and that the rules are working.

As Taoiseach, I will also convene a Dublin city centre task force to chart a path towards a safer and more vibrant Dublin because it is time to have pride again in our capital city."

The new Taoiseach's speech and faith in his Justice Minister will put to bed, for now at least, much of the grumblings from within Fine Gael over the party's position on law and order. Charlie Flanagan and ex-minister of State Michael Ring have called for the scrapping of the Government’s planned hate speech legislation and criticised proposals to allow the extension of drinking hours in pubs and nightclubs — both areas Ms McEntee has been working on — as they argued for FG to return to core values.

It also follows a tough six months for Ms McEntee at the Department of Justice amid concern over street crime in Dublin and the city rioting last November.