Tom Brabazon
Dublin Bay North · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I raise the issue of Uisce Éireann and the lack of meaningful engagement it has with the public and public representatives. I have had a number of dealings with it recently, most notably on James Larkin Road where it is doing an important project.”
“I welcome what the Taoiseach said in respect of the Dublin city task force. Us Dubs agree that the city centre certainly requires a lot of TLC. Speaking with many constituents in Dublin Bay North, they have fond memories of travelling into town to go shopping in the Talbot Street area.”
“Howth Yacht Club caters for all types of people. One might think a yacht club is the preserve of the wealthy middle class but the club goes well beyond that and has ambitious plans to become an inclusive club catering for those less able and less fortunate than regular club members.”
“I certainly would not be raising this issue in this public way in the Chamber if the matter were progressing in the manner the Minister of State has described. We have been waiting two years for the resolution of a consolidated lease in circumstances where the club's specialist hired solicitor has, in effect, done the work for the State.”
“The club has five leases from the Department of, Agriculture, Food and the Marine. To tidy up the title, the club hired a specialist solicitor to try to consolidate the leases to simplify the title in order to ease grant applications.”
“I welcome the Minister's response in that regard but the suggestion made is only one of a suite of measures to combat this reckless carry-on. We need more accountability from importers of scramblers, more Garda pursuit training, more intelligence gathering and more community involvement in handing over intelligence to Garda authorities.”
The complete record
Every one of 197 lines we hold for Tom Brabazon, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 4.
“Will the Government introduce more stringent legislation to ensure local authorities can act swiftly and decisively against repeated antisocial and criminal behaviour in a way that ensures the State will not endorse this behaviour?”
“I am frequently contacted by constituents who are social housing tenants experiencing serious and repeated antisocial and criminal behaviour in the developments in which they live. These are fine people who contribute very strongly to their local communities but who face daily disruption because they live alongside those who engage in antisocial and criminal behaviour. While those who engage in such behaviour comprise a very small minority, the trouble they cause for their neighbours is vast and totally disproportionate. It is deeply distressing for those who have to put up with it and must see it occur time and again. It is only right that we protect many responsible tenants from the destruction of the few who make their lives intolerable and miserable.”
“I ask her to ensure that every child, regardless of background or circumstances, has timely assessment, a clear pathway to interventions and access to the support they are entitled to.”
“The system must be fast, meaningful and actionable. The system must assess children within the statutory timeframe - not occasionally, not in exceptional cases, but in each and every case. Critically, the system must restore the link between assessment and intervention. The children have enormous potential and have so much to offer our society. It is our responsibility that the system should allow them to flourish rather than hold them back. We must deliver assessments faster, provide supports sooner and ensure that no child is left behind. I urge the Minister of State to place equity and fairness at the heart of this reform. We cannot accept in a republic that a child's needs are not assessed on time and that the supports they so urgently need are not accessible.”
“This creates inequity, undermines trust and is deeply unfair. I got a reply to a parliamentary question earlier this year showing a demonstrable difference between people getting assessments of need on the northside and on the southside of this city. Many of my constituents cannot afford this nor can they afford to hire a solicitor when the statutory timeframe has been passed. They should not be expected to carry this burden. A child's future should not depend on the family's ability to pay. Early intervention is vital for these children. The HSE tells us this, the clinicians tell us this and the parents know it. However, families are exhausted and early intervention is more of an aspiration than a reality. Each day without these supports closes developmental windows and puts unnecessary pressure on families.”
“One of my first contributions in this House as a TD was on this topic of the assessment of need and early interventions. In the time since, countless parents have contacted me to tell me that they are still waiting beyond the statutory timeframes for an assessment of need and for the supports their children require. We simply cannot continue to have a system where delay is normal and compliance with statutory timelines is an exception. We must deliver the necessary supports for these children on time and without delay. It is the least the children and their families deserve. I welcome the reforms announced by the Minister today and I hope they will deliver a significant and immediate improvement in the system. Families and children cannot be expected to wait for the supports they are entitled to or be forced to get a report privately.”
“Yesterday at the justice committee, I asked the Garda Commissioner if he could cite the number of convictions or any pending prosecutions under this particular piece of legislation but, unfortunately, he ran out of time and was not in a position to answer the question. It is a very important piece, given what we see across the city and given what Deputy Ardagh has alluded to. Could this be discussed further at the committee?”
“As Deputy Ardagh mentioned, there are many young people going around this city dressed up, "ballied" up, on scooters, on scramblers and so on. These young people are targeted by older criminals because they are vulnerable and impressionable. They are induced by adults with the promises of a life of luxury cars, expensive clothes and a simple get rich quick message. The grooming of young people into criminality destroys these young people's lives, their families and does untold damage to their communities. Under the last Government, the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act was passed to tackle and target adults who groom minors and force children into crime.”
“The Tánaiste mentioned Wi-Fi as one of the things being looked at but there are other deliverables, including additional or increased bottled water and rations for overseas locations and improvements to laundry and recreation facilities across Defence Forces locations at home and overseas. Perhaps something in that regard could also be looked at.”
“Among the concerns of the representative associations is that, while this has been negotiated and agreed at the top level, there has been no audit of the provision of services that are currently lacking and no new bespoke budget has been created to start delivering these provisions or services. Any improvements that are being delivered seem to be somewhat haphazard or delivered by local engagement. The representative associations do not seem to be aware of any budget, plan or direction being provided despite having asked. Will the Tánaiste address those concerns?”
“The programme for Government commits to improving public transport services and encouraging people to get out of cars and onto public transport. These events do not encourage that. Will the Department of Transport engage with public transport operators to ensure our public transport is reliable and functional all year round?”
“Over the recent bank holiday weekend, DART services were suspended due to maintenance work. While I accept this maintenance work has to be done, does it really have to be done over a bank holiday weekend, particularly when the Dublin city marathon, with more than 20,000 participants, was taking place? Many of my constituents found themselves unable to use public transport because the DART was not running and buses were full as a result of increased demand. More broadly, there is an issue with the punctuality of buses and no-show buses. For example, the No. 15 bus, which runs through my constituency, is regularly a no-show or late. A number of constituents have contacted me to advise that they were at their stop waiting for the bus and it arrived significantly late or did not show up.”
“The Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation has put forward a number of measures to support the sector, including subsidies or tie-up schemes to reduce fishing effort where stocks require a period of rebuilding, and has also called for Ireland to invoke all its Hague preferences where its quota is below the threshold. I know the Minister of State is familiar with those proposals. I welcome that budget 2026 provides a significant €157.7 million to support the fisheries sector. This funding will provide much-needed financial assistance and essential investment in infrastructure. I strongly urge the Department to continue to work with the sector to meet the significant challenges ahead and to ensure the long-term viability of our fisheries and coastal communities.”
“Those in our fishing sector have raised their real concern about conditions they will face in 2026, which Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has so eruditely put. This entails reductions in catches of mackerel, blue whiting and boarfish, and zero catches for cod, haddock and whiting stocks. Such cuts would seriously impact the viability of our catching sector, prevent fish processing businesses from having access to raw material, and impact the service industry that supports the seafood sector in coastal communities like Howth.”
“Howth, as we all know, is a major centre for tourism, and contributes to the local and national economy. Each year, hundreds travel to Howth to celebrate Ireland's maritime heritage and our seafood tradition at Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival. However, it is vital that the local fishermen and women and the harbour receive the support they need to sustain the rich fishing tradition. At a broader level, we are witnessing growing fragility in our food systems from impacts of war, climate disasters, rising costs and supply shortages. Ireland cannot take its food security for granted. We must provide every support that we can to our fisheries and those in the sector to protect our livelihoods and our national food security.”
“It is not just fishing vessels which use the harbour, but also commercial and leisure craft, and, extremely importantly, RNLI rescue craft. This delay could have serious implications for lifeboats in the future in the event of an emergency. I urge the Department to do what it can to get this project moving as soon as possible. Other improvements are required at the harbour, such as the boat repair shed. Currently, it is only accessible for part of the year. Greater sheltering of the shed would allow vessel owners to make repairs and improvements to the vessels all year around. I ask the Department to have a look at this and to offer definitive support in this regard. Also at the harbour, the Syncrolift which was built in the 1980s is long overdue an upgrade. I ask the Department to give this the attention it deserves.”
“This is my second time raising this matter on the floor of the House. Last month, I tabled a Topical Issue matter to discuss the urgent works required at the harbour. The harbour has not been dredged since the 1970s, half a century ago, and vessels are experiencing significant issues with the harbour's depth. A number of weeks ago, a vessel became stuck in the harbour for a number of hours at low tide. Vessels have a narrow window to get in and out of the harbour, particularly larger boats with a clearance of 5 m or less. Planning permission has been granted for a wonderful new park off the pier using the dredged material. However, consent is awaited from the Environmental Protection Agency. We urgently need this approval so that vessels can utilise the harbour with ease, get in and out and do what they want and need to do.”
“I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate. I welcome John Lynch from Howth, who is the CEO of the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation. I thank him for the hard work that he does in this area. Ireland has a very proud fishing tradition right across our island. I was glad to see that a stand-alone Minister of State for fisheries was re-established as part of the programme for Government, reflecting the Government's commitment to this sector. It is important that, as Members of these Houses, we acknowledge that our fisheries are vital, not only for our economy but for our food security. We must ensure that those working in the sector are supported to the absolute maximum. In my constituency, Dublin Bay North, we are proud of Howth Harbour and Howth's tradition as a fishing village, dating back to the Middle Ages.”
“I welcome the budget and its awareness of the uncertain global environment. It recognises the challenges ahead and puts forward real solutions to ensure our economy and society remain resilient in a changing world.”
“That was never going to be delivered in the first budget. In fact, the programme for Government commits to reducing childcare costs progressively. I welcome the increased funding for the childcare sector, which will help increase much-needed places for young children and support for families. When I knock on doors around my constituency of Dublin Bay North, my constituents tell me they want safer streets. I welcome the €77 million in funding to get an extra 1,000 gardaí on our streets and into our communities. I welcome the overtime budget to provide an additional 392,000 hours to meet the demand for a visible and responsive policing force. I welcome the €7.3 million in additional funding for youth diversion projects, which will provide opportunities for young people and will steer them in the right direction.”
“Since my election to this House, I have been visiting schools across my community and meeting principals, teachers and parents to see how the State can best support our education system. Time and again, personnel in schools told me that they needed to see an increase in the capitation grant so that they can keep the heating and lights on, cover their insurance costs and meet other costs. It is important to welcome that the capitation grant has been increased by €50 per pupil for primary and special schools and €20 per pupil for post-primary schools. This will help ensure that each child has an equal opportunity to learn in a suitable environment. There have been lots of complaints and accusations by the Opposition that there were broken promises because we did not deliver on preschool places.”
“The Opposition has suggested that there have been no cost-of-living benefits for the public. This is untrue and disingenuous. The minimum wage has been increased to €14.15. The fuel allowance has been increased to €38, providing an additional €140 during the fuel allowance season. State pensions have been increased. Those on child benefit will get €8 more per week for children under 12 and €16 more per week for children over 12. Measures introduced by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will save an average of €100 per year for households and businesses, with the VAT reduction in place until 2030. This budget also looks to the future and provides for a rainy day fund, with €1 billion set aside in a contingency reserve that will be held centrally.”
“This is not a utopian budget. It is not a budget that solves every problem. Despite what the Opposition proclaims, no budget ever could. The budget serves two main purposes. The first is to rein in public expenditure, which has been on the rise significantly since 2020. I welcome the budget's approach to reducing the trajectory of the spending of taxpayers' money. It is a prudent budget. The second plank of the budget is to finance the single most significant social issue of our day, which is the lack of housing. I welcome the increased investment in housing, which includes an enhanced funding allocation of €563 million to support the provision of homeless services, an extension of the renter's tax credit of €1,000 for three years and an increase in funding to our local authorities to support them in building more homes for our citizens.”
“Tá scoláirí, tuistí, oidí agus an pobal máguaird gar do Ghaelcholáiste Reachrann ag fanacht ar bhuanfhoirgneamh le 24 bliain anuas. Tháinig an t-Aire amach chun na scoile i mí an Mheithimh agus fágadh gach duine leis an tuairim go mbeadh foirgneamh na scoile ag dul amach le haghaidh tairiscintí an mhí seo caite. In ainneoin ceisteanna parlaiminte, táimid ar fad ag fáil na freagraí ceannann céanna. Cut and paste atá ann mar a dúirt an Teachta Sherlock níos luaithe. Is léir ó na freagraí nach bhfuil a fhios ag éinne cathain a bheidh an conradh á chur amach le haghaidh tairiscintí. Tá freagraí uainn. Táimid ar fad, mar phobal, dearg le fearg. Níl sé seo maith go leor agus tá dul chun cinn ag teastáil go práinneach. Chun a bheith macánta, tá cic sa tóin tuillte go maith ag an Roinn as ucht na moille thar tréimhse blianta fada.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the positive outline of the general scenario in regard to the fishing industry, which I of course welcome. I have spoken to the Minister of State directly on the EPA consent regarding Howth and he is aware of it and of the urgency of the issue. I wanted to raise it with the Minister of State on the record, that it is much wider than that. The leisure sector is affected by this as well. I know the Howth Yacht Club, for example, has a very significant investment in a new marina, which has been held up by the fact the dredging has been held up. The big concern I have is that the RNLI operates from Howth Harbour and God forbid that it would need to get out with one of its larger vessels and get struck at a low tide without having a window to get out for a rescue. I would be very concerned about that.”
“I ask the Minister of State to impress on his colleague Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, to impress upon the EPA to move this consent process along if possible.”
“This issue came to a head a number of weeks ago when a vessel was stuck in the harbour for a couple of hours at low tide. Dredging is required urgently. Howth has become a hot spot for tourism. The area is a contributor for both the economy of Dublin and the country overall. Each year tourists and people from across the country travel to Howth to celebrate Howth, Ireland's maritime heritage, our seafood and Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival. In the current global environment, it is essential that we have food security, and our fishermen contribute greatly to that reliable source of food. This is an important project. Dredging will greatly benefit all who use the harbour and assist in the continuance of the tradition of Howth as a fishing village.”
“I wish to raise an issue relating to Howth Harbour. Howth has been a harbour and fishing village since the Middle Ages. Boats are experiencing an issue with the harbour's depth. It has not been dredged since the 1970s. That is almost half a century ago. Boats, especially the larger boats, which have a clearance of 5 m or less have a much narrower window to get in and out of the harbour than they used to have because of the silting up of the harbour. Dredging is due to be carried out. There is a programme to build a public park on one side of the harbour and use the dredging materials to build up the soil levels to do that. Unfortunately, the planning permission has been granted, but we are waiting on a consent to issue from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. It has been with the agency for some time.”
“In light of our housing crisis, if we had effective antisocial behaviour policies, it would remove the fear regarding social housing developments going ahead in new areas. This is something that needs to be examined and we need to move on it without further delay. Early intervention reduces the risk of minor antisocial behaviour escalating into criminal activity. I take the point about the numbers of community gardaí falling. The Minister is working on increasing the numbers of gardaí and there will be a consequential increase in that. I also welcome the efforts by him and the Minister for Transport regarding transport police. That is really timely because an antisocial and criminal element has taken to public transport to sell drugs and engage in nefarious activities.”
“They defecate, urinate, sell drugs, charge up their e-bikes and e-scooters, go out on the streets and cause the problems described by Deputy Heneghan all over Dublin Bay North. This behaviour is unacceptable. I listened to Paul Reid at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use. He put it very eruditely that the drugs problem seems to affect many of our more vulnerable members of society. Unfortunately, the problem is found more in areas with social housing than in other areas. Drugs affect all of society but it is very much concentrated in areas with social housing. There is a connection between our ineffective antisocial behaviour policies that are not implemented properly and our local authorities and approved housing bodies. Much more work needs to be done.”
“I would like to see meaningful consequences, particularly for those under 18, for those involved in this type of offending. I take the point that more investment and diversion - all of the issues mentioned by Deputy Heneghan mentioned - are needed. This is without a shadow of a doubt. However, we cannot put it all down to that. Far more responsibility falls on the individuals who live under the roof of adults who do not seem to know what is happening to their own children, which is unacceptable. If offenders face no accountability or consequences, they become emboldened and continue such harmful behaviour. I can tell the House about parts of my constituency where a feral gang goes in and out of an apartment complex and have literally taken over the common areas.”
“I commend Deputy Gogarty on tabling the motion, which is very timely. It reflects a lot of the commitments in the programme for Government, which the Minister is very committed to implementing. Much of the behaviour we see around north Dublin is not antisocial behaviour. We should call it what it is - crime. Changing the term to antisocial behaviour seems to downgrade it and dilutes effective responses to it so we need to call it what it is. It is crime. It damages public spaces, discourages positive community use and can drive people indoors away from our public open spaces and make these spaces even more dangerous as a result of lack of footfall. It deeply affects vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children and people with disabilities.”
“Since my election to this House, I have been contacted by numerous principals, teachers and parents of primary school children who say they are finding the management of the capitation grant of €224 per pupil becoming increasingly difficult. The increasing energy costs, insurance costs and other operational costs have increased the financial burden on schools and stress on school principals, in particular. Can this be examined in the context of the upcoming budget? The ask of some of the principals is that there be an additional €75 per pupil in the grant. Could that be considered?”
“Last week, the Minister for housing, James Browne, approved significant equity loan funding for the development of 85 new cost-rental homes in Belmayne in Dublin 13 in my constituency. As the Taoiseach knows, many renters find themselves earning too much to qualify for social housing and are not able to afford the market rents. This project and funding, therefore, is very welcome and I would love to see far more of these projects and certainly more affordable housing as well. On cost rental, is it possible for the Cabinet committee to look at a pathway to ownership in the context of this scheme? I refer to cases where people have proven themselves capable over time of being able to continue and maintain paying those rents.”
“I warmly welcome the Minister's comments in relation to alternatives to custodial sentences and that he is reviewing the alternatives. Community service is something that could benefit society more widely.”
“Judges might be leaning towards a custodial sentence and because they see some of their customers, for want of a better word, coming before them again very quickly after they have been previously given a custodial sentence, it might sway it the other way.”
“I warmly welcome the provision in the programme for Government for the construction of Thornton Hall and the additional places the Minister mentioned. The current prison population is 14% over capacity. The Irish Penal Reform Trust, IPRT, has expressed serious concern about the current situation. The Minister is doing his absolute best in that regard. I have concern about the appearance of a revolving door situation. It can be demoralising for members of An Garda Síochána who have spent a lot of time and resources investigating, prosecuting and achieving a conviction, only to find out a convict is back out on the streets quickly because the Prison Service does not have sufficient capacity. The dearth of prison places might also affect judicial discretion.”
“A lot of of our summary prosecutions are done before District Court judges, without a jury, and I do not hear anybody crying foul in respect of the functioning of those courts. Likewise, I do not hear anybody crying foul when An Garda Síochána issues a fixed-penalty notice in circumstances where the offence is decided without either judge or jury. I urge caution in this regard. We need reform but we also need to think about what should replace the system we currently have. I look forward to seeing the fruits of such discussion in due course.”
“An Garda Síochána continues in its view that the nature of these groups is such that ordinary courts are inadequate to deal with them. As such threats persist, the continuance of these particular provisions of the 1998 Act is necessary. Threats to the State and its citizens are not confined to terrorist groups. Organised crime groups pose a real threat and an intent to interfere with the administration of justice, including by putting jurors in fear and danger. The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 came into force with the aim of introducing measures to tackle organised crime. Previous speakers made arguments regarding the lack of democracy attaching to non-jury courts.”
“The majority report recommended that new legislation be introduced to establish and regulate the operation of a new non-jury court. The motion notes the Minister's intention to accept in principle the recommendations from that report. It is our duty as legislators to ensure the necessary provisions and legislation are in place to protect our citizens from the groups identified in the review reports and the threats they pose. The resolutions passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas in June 2024 resulted in the continuation of sections 2 to 4, inclusive, 6 to 12, inclusive, 14 and 17 of the 1998 Act for a period of 12 months. In his statement, the Minister acknowledged that there remains a threat from violent and extreme groups.”
“The activities and international linkages of organised crime groups have intensified in a manner which challenges the capacity of the State to protect communities from the activities of such groupings. The report also states: An Garda Síochána continue to believe that the nature of these groupings is such that ordinary courts are inadequate to deal with them. In particular, there is a strong concern that attempts would be made to intimidate jury members in cases involving members of such groups, thus rendering the ordinary courts inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice in such cases. The majority and minority reports of the review group recommended that the Offences against the State Acts not be continued.”
“The Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 was introduced in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing. That terrible and cruel atrocity by the Real IRA took the lives of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured more than 300 others. The review group tasked with examining the Offences against the State Acts stated: [W]hile the threat from republican paramilitary groups has diminished, a number of such groups persist in attempting to undermine the State by their efforts to overthrow the democratically expressed will of the people, as expressed in the support for the Good Friday Agreement. ...[Ireland] is not immune from the growing threat which international terrorism has posed in recent years and must play its full role in countering the threats posed by international terrorist groups both here and elsewhere.”
“The programme for Government contains a commitment to reduce class sizes to 19. Two schools in my constituency, Belgrove Infant Girls' School in Clontarf and Scoil Mhuire in Howth, have classes amalgamating due to falling numbers. This will result in pupil-teacher ratios of 35:1 in both classes. Can the Taoiseach expedite the programme to introduce the 19:1 ratio in these schools as soon as possible?”
“I welcome that national security is given such a high profile, with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Ministers for foreign affairs, Defence, Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the Secretaries General of those Departments, the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, the National Cyber Security Centre director, and the Taoiseach and Tánaiste's chiefs of staff also attending meetings. It is crucial that the council keeps abreast of this issue and meets regularly to keep on top of the continuing threats. I welcome the fact that the State has announced a contract to develop a new sonar system which will be a towed sonar capability. When attached to an Irish naval vessel, it will assist the Defence Forces with monitoring subsea areas in Ireland's exclusive economic zones. It will help with fisheries, drug and other criminal detection.”
“As the Taoiseach will be aware, in 2019 the Government proposed to develop a national security strategy. The new strategy at that time aimed to set out a whole-of-government approach on how the State could protect its national security and vital interests. Over a period of five years, from 2020 to 2025, the current and emerging threats have changed significantly and the threats have increased significantly, particularly given the international context in which we find ourselves, to which other Deputies have alluded.”
“Some of the work done by the Minister in providing more gardaí for the city centre at Store Street and Pearse Street is welcome, including by the public in general, but there is a sense that some of the problems have been displaced to the suburbs as a result and some of the areas now under construction and those that have been constructed in the past 15 or 20 years, certainly on the northside in my experience, are going down the road of suffering from the same problems as the north inner city. We will have to look at that in a bigger, more holistic way.”
“I also wanted to raise this matter. I welcome that the task force is there and has been proposed. There is some concern at city council level about the task force's level of funding to achieve the goals it sets for itself, which are welcome, including the creation of an attractive, safe streetscape and a desirable location to live, work and do business in and visit. Many of my constituents on the northside of Dublin have voiced the view to me that they are afraid to come in to the city.”
“I welcome all the additional promised investment in the Air Corps. When the Garda Commissioner was before the justice committee earlier this week, he pointed out that one of the main methods for tackling the scrambler scourge in the city is through deploying the Garda helicopter, which principally operates out of Casement Aerodrome. In circumstances where it is only operational half of the week, his hands must be severely curtailed in that regard. We need to do whatever we can to get this problem resolved at the earliest opportunity.”
“Like other speakers this morning, I wish to raise the issue of the aerodrome at Baldonnel and the problems that have manifested in respect of air traffic controllers. We note that there have been problems with air traffic control on three occasions since 2010 and that a report was done internally in 2021. It does not appear to have been acted on in a meaningful way to date. I know the Minister made some announcements in this regard yesterday, but my concern is that support flights for An Garda Síochána and air ambulance services are being missed out on as a result of the service not operating fully as it should.”
“They are, despite being underage, acting in an adult way but are not facing the rigours of the criminal system. On top of that, notwithstanding anything the Garda Commissioner might say, these drug mules are not being pursued and prosecuted when they are on those vehicles.”