He said it makes you wonder "who is running the show".
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she hasn't been asked to give direction on what force Gardai can use.
Speaking on Kildare Today, Kildare North TD James Lawless TD said he was left "scratching his head", wondering who is running the show when she made the remark at yesterday's Oireachtas Justice Committee.
"I thought that was a strange phrase. The Minister is the person at the top of the tree. She should be giving the guidance, not waiting to be asked," he said.
He added: "If I was the Minister I wouldn't be asking people what to do, I'd be telling them what to do."
He said it makes you wonder "who is running the show".
He added that when it comes to calling rioters "scumbags", we are "too woke" and getting more upset about what we are calling people rather than focusing on what happened.
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