Minister for Justice Simon Harris, will present proposals to the government in the coming weeks to change the legislation to increase the punishments for assaults on An Garda Sochána personnel and other emergency service personnel.
For such assaults on a garda or emergency service worker who is on duty, such as hospital staff, prison officers, members of the fire brigade, ambulance workers, or members of the Defense Forces, he said he will introduce a maximum punishment of 12 years.
Ramming a garda vehicle or other emergency vehicle would also go under this.
Recently, there have been attacks on Garda in Ballyfermot, Dublin, and other places.
“I want to change the law to ensure that we, the people’s representatives, send a very clear message that attacks on members of An Garda Síochána will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly by a law that provides for longer sentences,” Mr Harris said.
Meanwhile, a new law that would increase the maximum punishment for assault that endangers a member of the general public from five years to ten years is now being debated in the Oireachtas.
Mr Harris said he will also modify the law to allow specifically for a heavier maximum term for an assault on a garda or other emergency service member going about their work.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris asked for a reform to the law governing assaults against police officers last month.
Recently, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) met with the minister to discuss the situation and made a request for the creation of a unique task group to address it.
Complaints have also been expressed concerning the low level of new garda recruits to the training college in Templemore.