Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to ask about links between gangland crime and paramilitary groups. The funeral of Alan Ryan was already mentioned and Donaghmede is in my constituency. The people in Donaghmede were appalled at what happened at that funeral. Large numbers of people came from outside the area and the area appeared to have been taken over. There was paramilitary style marching, wearing of masks, firing of weapons and black flags on lampposts - things we had not seen for ten years or more. People were just looking on and it appeared that nobody was in charge which appalled many people. Some of the shops were closed and bus services were suspended for half a day - the area was in lockdown. Perhaps the Garda was not prepared for this because it had not happened for so long. It certainly appalled the local people.

Since then, the recent murder of a prison officer in the North seems to be linked to this kind of gangland paramilitary-style war that is going on and there may be a North-South link with this kind of activity. In view of the upsurge in such activity, does the Garda Commissioner have the resources and personnel required to deal with that level of crime?