Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I have a cordial relationship with my colleague, Deputy Jim O'Keeffe, which is more than can be said for Progressive Democrats Cabinet Ministers or parliamentary party members, who are now barely on speaking terms. It is very noticeable around the House. If I were in the Minister's position, I would not draw attention to it so clearly.

When we legislate for a provision for an oral directive, it is important that it is subsequently recorded. There must be a level of practicality and I have no difficulty with the amendment which states that a mistake in not recording the directive in written form does not negate its usefulness. That is sensible, although I hope there will be a written recording.

The bulk of the amendments were tabled by the Minister and relate to mandatory sentencing for firearms and drug offences. The intention of the House and the Minister is that there would not be a lesser provision for a subsequent offence than for an initial offence and that should be clear in the text of the Bill. I have no difficulty with that. The other amendments are not of great moment and I accept them. I thank the Minister for providing us with a written brief so that we did not have to trawl through the Bill once more.

The Bill, its tortuous journey through these Houses notwithstanding, is not bad legislation. It will strengthen the arm of the Garda Síochána and act as a buffer in the increasingly complicated and difficult fight against crime. We will make political capital on these issues but we recognise the extraordinarily difficult and at times life threatening job members of the Garda Síochána do. I was happy to issue a statement congratulating the force on the successful raid on a drugs factory in the last week. I hope the force is further armed by this legislation.

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