THE Department of Justice has denied there was any political bias in its decision to part fund closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in the constituencies of two members of the Government.
A statement issued yesterday by the Department rejected a claim by a Dublin Fianna Fail TD, Mr Liam Lawlor, that political bias may have been involved in the decision to locate security cameras in Tralee, the constituency of the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, and in Finglas, where the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, holds a Dail seat.
Mr Lawlor, who represents the constituency of Dublin West, said. "I assume it is sheer coincidence that these areas are located in the Dail constituencies of the leader of the Labour Party and the leader of Democratic Left."
The Department of Justice statement said that local groups in Tralee and Finglas had already submitted proposals with a view to receiving Government funding for a CCTV scheme. The Department had decided to part fund the schemes in Tralee and Finglas because of the "preparatory work" done by groups in both areas.
The Department of Justice and the Garda currently operate the CCTV scheme in the Temple Bar area of Dublin and by the end of the year cameras will be in place in O'Connell Street, Dublin. The decision to extend the scheme was taken as part of the anti-crime package introduced by the Government two months ago.
Half of the CCTV funding comes from the Department of Justice, with the balance coming from commercial interests in areas where the cameras are installed.
The Lord Mayor of Limerick criticised the extension of the CCTV scheme to Tralee. Mr Kieran O'Hanlon said that security cameras were needed in Limerick to monitor incidents such as the rioting which occurred in the city last Sunday night.
The Department of Justice said that it intended to draw up plans for the extension of the CCTV scheme to other areas as an "aid to policing" in the new year.