Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon has sharply criticised proposals to introduce private security patrols in Dublin's city centre, saying the idea undermines confidence in the Government's approach to reviving the area and public safety.

The Dublin Central TD said: "I was stunned to learn of this harebrained proposal today. It does not inspire confidence in the Government's plans to regenerate the city centre if this is the best they can come up with to make people feel safer.

"Maintaining law and order on the streets of our capital is the role of gardaí – and gardaí only. We cannot allow the Government to abdicate responsibility for policing our streets by hiring private security staff – a move that would give rise to multiple legal and civil liberty concerns. "It's hardly a surprise that it has come to this. The Government is asking gardaí, working under enormous pressure, to police a city they can't afford to live in. It's little wonder that we struggle to recruit and retain members of the force.

"To add insult to injury, it has also emerged that plans to recruit private security workers have been drawn up without even consulting our elected councillors. This is nothing short of outrageous, particularly when there are so many unanswered questions.

"For instance, what powers will these security operatives have? Who will they be accountable to? How will people's civil liberties be protected?

"These are public streets. You don't get to draft a tender behind councillors' backs and then deal with these issues afterwards.

"People living and working in Dublin deserve to feel safe. They deserve gardaí who have the time and resources to know their communities. Above all, they deserve a Government that delivers on its commitment to make our capital city safer without resorting to unworkable gimmicks."