Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am sure Members are of one mind in respect of extending an expression of sympathy following the shooting down of Donna Cleary, a young woman and mother of a young child who was out enjoying herself at an ordinary occasion. We now have a Garda investigation into the death of the alleged perpetrator of this heinous crime. At a time like this the country looks to this House and wants legislators to take appropriate action. I am sure the Taoiseach recalls the words which he expressed ten years ago:

As a community we have embarked on a war to row back the level of crime. That war must be waged relentlessly and must be won. It must be directed at lifting the shadow which hangs over our democracy. It demands and deserves the support of all and the first battle will take place today in this House, on it will depend a vigorous and effective anti-crime campaign.

We heard the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who is not present — he is probably speaking on another radio programme — describe this shooting as a watershed. As usual, it is a watershed for everyone but him and there is no indication that this appalling crime will shock him into action. More than a year ago the Minister correctly identified the extent of gun culture and how cheap life has become. He promised mandatory jail sentences and an amnesty to take firearms out of circulation. One year on, nothing has happened and we are bogged down with the Criminal Justice Bill, which is stuck in committee with more than 100 amendments pending. Last year the Minister clapped himself on the back claiming he had wiped out gun culture and gangland killings were the sting of a dying wasp before another series of murders and bloodshed took place last November.

In recent years the House has dealt with emergency legislation on immigration, copyright, ground rent and nursing home charges. Look at the performance of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Under his watch detection rates fell from 42% in 2000 to 35% in 2004. Since he took office, more than 400,000 headline crimes have been committed and if the trend continues until next year, he will have presided over 500,000 headline crimes in one year. Detection and committal of crime are key performance indicators and the Minister has failed utterly on both of them.

I want the Taoiseach to take serious action in respect of the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's commitments, made on every radio programme in the land when something happens, to introduce legislation. The system is clogged with promises of legislation from the Minister and other members of the Government. There were 73,000 headline crimes in 2000, 98,000 in 2004 and 101,000 in 2005. Detection rates have fallen from 42% in 2000 to 35% in 2004. When will the Taoiseach, as the Head of Government, take this matter seriously? When will he take action with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who is all talk and no action?

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