Incoming Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that he would support a request to arm Gardaí.
When asked if the Garda rank-and-file should be armed, he said it's "very much a decision for the Garda Commissioner", Drew Harris, rather than a politician, the Irish Mail on Sunday reports.
If the Garda Commissioner did ask him or the Minister for Justice to arm Gardaí, the Tánaiste said he "would absolutely say yes".
"I certainly wouldn't do anything to block that if he felt that was the right approach."
The Tánaiste hit out at what he called "really appalling" scenes when two Gardaí were attacked in Ballyfermot in Dublin earlier this week.
The officers, a man and a woman, were attacked after responding to a public order incident outside the pub on the Ballyfermot Road in the early hours of the morning.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of assault, while one woman has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences.
Street violence
The Tánaiste also told the Mail on Sunday that he was worried about the perceived rise in street violence.
He said that, while the figures don't show a spike in incidents, he acknowledges that "people don't feel as safe on our streets, and even in their homes as they did previously".
"We have a responsibility to make sure that they do."
Varadkar will resume the office of Taoiseach on December 17th as the cabinet is reshuffled.
Bodycams for Gardaí
The Tánaiste wants body cameras to be rolled out for members of An Garda Síochana as soon as possible.
Legislation allowing for the use of such devices is expected before the Oireachtas in the coming weeks; however, concerns remain over privacy and their effectiveness.
“The research has never been published so the public is in the dark about what the evidence is," Irish Council for Civil Liberties Executive Director Liam Herrick said.
“We have looked at the evidence from around the world and we are not convinced that it is going to either protect Gardaí or the public, but we’re open for a discussion on this.”
Main image shows Leo Varadkar speaking at Dublin Port. Picture by: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie
