Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I had a few written notes but I will also go off script based on what I have heard since the start of the contributions. To be honest, I am a little disappointed with the debate. This is not for any particular reason. However, one of the issues where there should be no difference of opinion is that of condemning criminality, but we have made a political football of it. That is a very sad indictment of this House, in particular, where people have taken the opportunity to criticise political parties and their particular stances on certain issues. This does not do justice to the communities living in fear of and under severe pressure from these criminal gangs and which are trying to deal on a daily basis with all its consequences.

The debate has also shown up the difference in people's attitude to crime and how we approach it. I heard some contributions which dealt solely with reactive measures to crime while, on the opposite end of the spectrum, there were those who were trying to address the issue proactively. We need to marry the two positions. Let us consider what has happened recently, in particular in Dublin, although it is not confined to Dublin. As the previous speaker said, crime knows no bounds. Types of crime may impact on particular areas more than others but crime itself knows no bounds and gangland crime knows no bounds either.

Gangs may be based in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and the larger urban areas but their tentacles reach out into rural Ireland as well. Everyone suffers as a result of these criminals.

In looking at the issue we have to look at the intimidation, coercion and violence of these people and how they thrive on fear and the intimidation of local communities. We have to consider the local communities in trying to address those problems. The Acting Chairman will forgive me but I do not recall the name of the Fine Gael Deputy who spoke before me because there are so many new faces in the House.

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