merrion street

• Ø Tánaiste attends inauguration of New York Police Commissioner
• Ø Tánaiste meets with NYPD Officers to discuss Policing
• Ø Discussions focus on sharing of information on tackling serious crime
• including challenges posed by gang violence
• Ø Tánaiste congratulates new NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill on his
• appointment

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald TD ,
who is in New York as Head of the Irish Delegation at the UN Summit for
Refugees and Migrants has met senior NYPD officers to share information
about tackling serious organised crime and gang violence over the last few
days. The Tánaiste was invited to attend the inauguration of the new NYPD
Commissioner following extensive talks with the new Commissioner and his
assistant commissioners.

The Tánaiste said “We share a common determination to tackle serious
organised and gang crime, and the violence and damage it inflicts on
communities. And we are also determined to ensure that law enforcement has
the resources and capacity to face down those involved”

The Tánaiste has held a series of meetings with senior NYPD officers
covering key strategies to tackle crime including the use of technology,
community policing, and targeted intelligence based operations to deal with
organised crime and terrorism.

“Of course there are many differences between the policing environments in
our two jurisdictions, but I was also struck as to how similar many of the
issues faced are. This has provided me with an excellent opportunity to
speak with senior law enforcement officers here in New York and to exchange
ideas and best practice around some of the shared challenges we face.

Events in New York this weekend are a reminder of the challenges facing
police forces here and all over the world, particularly the persistent
threat from those intent on terror and destruction” the Tánaiste said.

The Tánaiste also took the opportunity to meet with NYPD Commissioner James
O’Neill and attended his inauguration “I was very pleased to meet with the
new NYPD Commissioner Mr. James O’Neill to discuss policing matters. It was
clear to me that Commissioner O’Neill is a man passionate about and
dedicated to serving the people of his City and I would like to wish him
every success as he takes up his new role”.

“I also had the pleasure of meeting the McCabe Scholars at John Jay
University, two Gardai who are furthering their own education in a world
class environment" the Tánaiste concluded.

These meetings form part of what is a busy schedule for the Tánaiste which
includes speaking as Head of the Irish Delegation at the UN Summit for
Refugees and Migrants and participating in the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees
hosted by President Obama and partner countries as well as a number of
other related events.