Safety fears prompt moves to scale up security at Leinster House

It comes after an 'alarming rise in serious threats' against elected representatives

The Houses of the Oireachtas Service says it will aim to 'further develop and strengthen the secure environment' of Leinster House. File Picture

Leinster House authorities are to try to improve security at the Dublin campus in the coming years amid safety fears.

The Houses of the Oireachtas Service has published its strategic plan for the next three years, with security cited as a key challenge facing the body which runs the Dáil and Seanad.

The strategy says security risks have "reached a wider dimension, which includes but is not limited to security of information, security of premises, and security of people". It says there is a need "to deliver robust solutions to ensure our estate is sustainable and fit for purpose for our parliamentary community". 

It adds that the service will aim to "further develop and strengthen the secure environment" of Leinster House. The Oireachtas strategic plan points to the Task Force on Safe Participation in Political Life report which made proposals on how to safeguard those in the public eye.

A Senior Officials Implementation and Oversight Group (SOIOG) has been established to oversee, drive and report on the implementation of Task Force recommendations, to be led by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The plan says the service will look to strengthen security at the campus.

"We will review and strengthen security arrangements and ensure mechanisms are put in place for enhanced co-operation and information sharing with An Garda Síochána. Our working environment is important for all in our parliamentary community.

"During this strategy, we will develop a programme of capital works for the Leinster House campus in partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW)."

The 2024 report of the taskforce recommended that: 

• Gardaí strengthen arrangements with the Oireachtas for exchanging information on threats made against politicians; 
• local authorities provide psychological support services to local representatives, similar to the model of services provided through the Houses of the Oireachtas Workplace Support Programme; 
• it should no longer be a requirement for the home addresses of election candidates to be published and this should be optional.

The focus on security in the plan is welcomed in the document's foreword by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy and Seanad Cathaoirleach Mark Daly, who say "recent years have seen an increase in abusive behaviour towards politicians and others involved in political life".

Last month, Ms Murphy called for legislative proposals to defend political debate from an “alarming rise in serious threats” against elected representatives.

Making a statement as the Dáil returned from the summer recess, the Ceann Comhairle said she had a duty to “safeguard” the chamber, its members and the wider public interest.

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Ms Murphy said: “In recent times, we have witnessed an alarming rise in the serious threats and online abuse directed at a significant number of members of the Houses of the Oireachtas of all parties and none, a phenomenon that can no longer be ignored.

“Not alone does it affect us as members, but also a significant percentage of our population.

“This abuse often emanates from unverified profiles on various online platforms which facilitate unsavoury discourse and foster unhealthy narratives that bear little resemblance to fact or reality.”