Sinn Féin has renewed its calls for the Justice Minister to resign following last Thursday’s rioting in Dublin.

At least 48 people have so far been arrested in connection with the violence and looting in the capital after the Parnell Square attack.

Three Garda cars, buses and a Luas tram were set on fire after the riots broke out in the city – and questions have since been raised about the speed of the Garda response.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Sinn Féin TD Louise Oreilly accused Minister Helen McEntee of “losing control of the situation,” and leaving Gardaí and other emergency responders in a vulnerable position.

“There was a loss of control and for that reason, we [Sinn Féin] believe that the Minister for Justice should resign,” said Deputy O’Reilly.

“If she is not prepared to do that, we believe the Taoiseach [Leo Varadkar] should remove her from office.”

Gardaí at the scene where a woman and three children were attacked in Parnell Square in Dublin, 23-11-2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Asked whether the party would consider tabling a motion of no confidence against the Minister for Justice, Deputy O’Reilly said it has not been ruled out.

“What we have done is we have said very clearly that there was a failure on Thursday,” she said.

“We don’t have confidence in the Minister who can’t even acknowledge the scale of the problem.

“The Minister hasn’t even acknowledged that there was a loss of control.

“There’s no chance that the person who doesn’t understand the problem will be the person to fix the problem so we’ve told the Taoiseach the ball is in your court.”

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee who is facing calls for her resignation this week.

The Dublin Fingal TD added that her party will continue to “keep the situation under review”.

She rejected claims that calling for Ms McEntee’s resignation would lead to even more division in Ireland.

“I think what we need to do is ensure that the right person is in that job,” said Deputy O’Reilly.

“She said in one news report that this wasn’t an issue about safety on our streets, but it is an issue about safety on our streets.

“We and others have been raising this issue for months and months and months now.”

Deputy O’Reilly said anti-social behaviour has been building for a long time in Dublin City Centre, adding that it began long before the “horrific” stabbing on Parnell Square.

“The Minister has refused to acknowledge this,” she added.

Rioting on Parnell Street in Dublin as members of the public took to the streets after an attack on Parnell Square, 23-11-2023. Image: Sam Boal / © RollingNews.ie

Former Assistant Garda Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan told Newstalk that the riots came as a result of low numbers in the force.

“These are the lowest numbers we’ve had in six years. If the numbers aren’t available there is a delay in getting people to assist you,” he said.

“That crowd [of rioters] realised that; they realised there was more of them than there were of the Guards and that they were completely stretched and outnumbered.”

He said the “brave young men and women who are putting themselves in harm's way” to protect the general public, are not being resourced correctly.