Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

There is a problem of gardaí getting to the scene of an incident on time. When I ask people what happens when they report something to the Garda Síochána, they often say the gardaí came and took detailed notes but left the impression that nothing could be done. They say there is no point in going after the people because the evidence is too hard to get and even if they get the evidence and go to court, they will be let off with a caution under the Probation Act. That kind of message is very demoralising for somebody who has been assaulted, whose car has been damaged or whose home has been broken into.

I do not accept that nothing can be done or that there is no point in doing anything in such cases. Many of the problems that are arising in communities could be dealt with under the Public Order Act that was passed by the House a few years ago but, frankly, I do not think the legislation is being enforced. Last summer, I was impressed when President Bush was here. One could not turn a corner in this city without coming across a Garda presence.

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