Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has faced criticism over his assertion that Dublin is a "very safe" city following a violent assault in the heart of the capital and growing concerns about knife crime.
The debate intensified after a woman in her 50s was hospitalised following an alleged assault on Exchequer Street in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Gardaí were called to the scene at approximately 4.40am, with sections of Exchequer Street, Wicklow Street and Grafton Street cordoned off as investigations got underway. The woman was taken to St James's Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
Speaking earlier on Thursday, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan maintained that the incident was not representative of the city as a whole.
"Obviously, an incident like last night gets a lot of media attention, but I think we need to reflect upon the fact that it is not representative in general," he said.
"Dublin is a very safe place, and I want to see more people coming into Dublin."
The minister also used the opportunity to warn against knife carrying, saying people should not be bringing knives with them either during the day or at night.
"The word needs to go out loud and clear that it is unacceptable. It is a criminal offence for you to carry a knife without lawful authority," he said.
Mr O’Callaghan acknowledged that criminal incidents will occur in a city the size of Dublin but argued that increased Garda recruitment and high-visibility policing have improved public confidence and safety.
He also pointed to Ireland's homicide figures, noting that there were no gun-related killings in the country last year and none so far in 2026.
However, his comments prompted criticism from some business owners and campaigners who argue that the reality on Dublin's streets paints a different picture.
Ian Redmond, owner of Hyde Bar in Dublin city centre, said he disagreed with repeated claims from Government ministers that the capital remains safe overall.
Speaking on Newstalk, Redmond said Dublin has developed a "feral ambience" since the Covid-19 pandemic and argued that antisocial behaviour, drug use and safety concerns have become more visible.
"Both of them have said that Dublin is a safe place – it's not. Since Covid there is a feral ambience or mood in the city, it's not the way it was," he said.
Redmond argued that a "doughnut effect" had emerged, with fewer people living in the city centre on a full-time basis, contributing to a decline in activity and natural surveillance after dark.
The discussion comes just weeks after the fatal stabbing of Qayyum Balogun, a 21-year-old Maynooth University student, in Dublin city centre.
Mr Balogun, who lived in Dundalk, Co Louth, died after being stabbed in the early hours of June 1 following an incident near Grafton Street. He was taken to St James's Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The case reignited debate around knife crime in Ireland and prompted renewed calls for action from victims' advocacy group AdVIC.
The organisation described knife crime as a "scourge on Irish society" and said successive governments have failed to adequately tackle the issue.
AdVIC spokesperson Joan Deane said the group had been warning for more than a decade about the growing prevalence of knife carrying among young people.
"As far back as 2015, AdVIC publicly called for stronger measures to address the growing prevalence of knife carrying and the increasing use of weapons in violent assaults," she said.
"More than a decade later, those concerns are more real than ever. AdVIC believes there must be renewed urgency in tackling knife crime."
The group argued that tackling knife crime requires both criminal justice measures and a broader public health approach, warning that Ireland cannot continue reacting to tragedies without implementing long-term solutions.
As Garda investigations continue into Thursday's assault and the death of Mr Balogun remains fresh in the public consciousness, questions around public safety in Dublin are likely to remain a significant political issue for the Government in the weeks ahead.
