Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Pa Daly TD: ‘All-island view gives us a unique perspective’
Speaking with eolas Magazine ahead of a general election that many observers anticipate will arrive in autumn 2024, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on justice, Pa Daly TD, outlines his party’s justice policy platform.
Ciarán Galway (CG): With less than six months until a general election must be held, what are your most significant priorities as Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson?
Pa Daly (PD): Building proposals that emphasise public safety, are evidence-based, and address the fear of crime as well as crime itself. We feel strongly that Fine Gael are out of touch, and with over 13 years in the justice portfolio, are out of time. Making the case for Sinn Féin changing what is wrong within the justice system is my number priority.
CG: What distinguishes Sinn Féin’s justice policies from those of its political rivals?
PD: As Irish republicans, we have direct links into communities that are most affected by crime, and we want to address the causes and effects of crime as well. At the same time, we have a strong grounding in human rights and accountability. The experience of our comrades in the six counties is invaluable in that respect and whilst we clearly have a long way to go on both sides of the border, that all-island view gives us a unique perspective.
CG: How has Sinn Féin sought to maximise its influence on justice policy from the opposition benches?
PD: We have sought to oppose where it is correct to do so, but also to provide alternatives, raise legitimate concerns and advance policy. One of the big focuses I have had in the role is the moving of Private Members Bills, which often do not pass the House but do keep the government honest. Both the Criminal Justice (Promotion of Restorative Justice) (Amendment) Bill 2023 and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) (Amendment) Bill 2022 took extensive research and are very fully realised initiatives.
The opposition is sometimes at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of policies resources, but I am grateful for the work of the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, who helped to draft those two bills and others as well. That demonstrates what the potential of a Sinn Féin-led government is.
CG: To what extent has Sinn Féin been wrong-footed by the discourse around immigration?
PD: I do not agree we have been wrong-footed so much as we have found it difficult at times to communicate our position, namely that we should have a system which is fair, efficient and enforced. We could have done better, but at the same time, there are a lot of factors that are against us. We now have a policy document on the area and my sense is people have taken a breath, have reflected and understand where we are coming from a lot better.
“I do not agree we have been wrong-footed so much as we have found it difficult at times to communicate our position…”
Pa Daly TD, spokesperson on justice, Sinn Féin
CG: How could Sinn Féin’s vision for the State’s international protection system be summarised?
PD: Our views are set out in International Protection: A Fair System That Works, which is available on our website. I would encourage people to read it in full, but we want to end private profiteering and move to state run accommodation, put new centres only in areas which have the capacity to deal with them and speed up processing times. We also want to end the two-tier system of treatment, give HIQA a role in inspecting properties, and ensure human rights compliance.
CG: What policies would Sinn Féin seek to deliver in the justice portfolio in a full term of government?
PD: We would implement a Garda recruitment and retention taskforce, establish a public transport police, double youth justice interventions and double funding for restorative justice initiatives. Our full proposals will be further set out in our manifesto, and I am looking forward to engaging with different stakeholders in relation to this.
