Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

When the Taoiseach says that people are walking the streets seven years after committing murder, he should not blame that on society or on this House but should look across the Cabinet table and ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform why sentences are not being adhered to when murder means murder and an automatic life sentence.

We have had emergency legislation on immigration, ground rents and a range of other matter in the past 12 months. Is the Taoiseach now prepared to put the elements of the Criminal Justice Bill which deal with firearms before the House, where this party can facilitate him with more emergency legislation, so that we can see the consequence of the watershed he speaks of? Are we to have more waffle and promises but no action?

In respect of the Minister, I remind the Taoiseach that on the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the Progressive Democrats, of which the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, was a member, the party's founding member, Mr. Desmond O'Malley, said that it was necessary to deal with the dead hand of Government. That dead hand of Government is epitomised by the inactivity of the absent Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and of the Taoiseach——

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