Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome both the Bill and the new approach to dealing with child crime, which sees children more as victims of exploitation and not simply as delinquents intent on criminal or antisocial activity. The Bill provides for the prosecution of adults who groom children to commit crimes. It is something that has been advocated for by me and other Members of the Oireachtas across all parties for a number of years. It is an unfortunate fact that I see, in areas of my constituency of Dublin North-West, children committing and being drawn into crime under the guidance and direction of older people.

As far back as 2017, a report published by Professor Geoffrey Shannon identified the key threats to the safety and protection of children in Ireland. In his report, Professor Shannon recommended the introduction of a so-called Fagin's law to protect children from being groomed into a life of crime. He identified real-life situations where children were being actively groomed by drug gangs and other criminals to carry out serious crimes.

While the drug problem can be seen across all communities and demographics, it is mainly vulnerable communities and disadvantaged areas that are most impacted by the use and distribution of illegal drugs. These communities are being terrorised and intimidated by those involved in the drugs trade and families are increasingly fearful of their children being exposed to drugs but also of them being sucked into the criminal activity around the drugs trade.

I am aware of children being groomed by adults and older youths to help in the sale and supply of drugs or to hold weapons and quantities of cash for drug gangs. These drug gangs use a number of methods to groom children to be involved in this illicit trade. Children are being enticed by the false glamour of the drugs trade. Others are forced and cajoled into being involved in this criminal behaviour.

Those who groom children to be involved in criminal activity care less for the consequences for the child of his or her involvement in this criminal activity. They only care about enriching themselves at the expense of the destruction of a child's life and future. The question is: why do such gangsters abuse children in this way? The answer is that the drug dealers are being watched by the Garda, unlikely children, who are less likely to be caught.

The Bill is an important tool to protect children who are being groomed and exploited by gangsters, and will also draw together and simplify existing complex rules on complicity and incitement making it easier for the Garda and parents to identify what is criminal exploitative behaviour.

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