Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I also congratulate the Garda on successfully apprehending two armed robbers in County Westmeath, which is good news. A total of 101,659 headline offences were recorded last year, meaning almost 2,000 serious crimes were committed each week, or 279 each day. The number of homicides increased by almost 60%. Guns were used in 75 murders between 1998 and 2004 but proceedings were initiated in only 26, or 35%, of cases and convictions recorded in only 12, or 16%, of cases. The public is worried about these issues. Is Operation Anvil the solution? Should it be rolled out on a national basis and resourced properly? Has the Minister a strategy to deal with the increasing viciousness of those involved in the drugs business in Dublin and throughout the State? Are the resources available to the Garda, including specialist units and overtime provision, adequate to ensure these alarming figures do not increase?

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