Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I totally identify with the Deputy in regard to the incident in which a five-year-old child was shot. Nothing could be more depraved or more indicative of the total disregard a tiny minority of people in some of our cities have for human life. The people who earlier this year were shooting people on wasteland in Dublin or the people who are letting off weapons in pursuit of feuds in Limerick have no regard for human life and no respect for the law of our land. The gardaí in Limerick are putting in huge resources to counter that threat by a tiny minority of people who have unleashed violence upon each other and, inevitably, innocent third parties are the victims of such criminality. Great efforts are being made at community level to improve every aspect of life in that estate and similar estates in Limerick. We should not allow the actions of a tiny few who are behaving barbarously to drag down the reputation of a whole community or misrepresent the wonderful work being done in that community.

I am not aware of the percentage of drugs interdicted internationally as a norm but I believe the Garda has made very substantial inroads in that regard in this State. I join the Deputy in congratulating the Garda on its recent achievements in this area.

For the first ten months of 2005, An Garda Síochána seized 12 kg of heroin with an estimated value of €2,400,000. In the comparable period for this year, 115.75 kg of the drug, with an estimated street value of €23,150,000, have already been seized. This represents a significant increase. It shows the Garda is achieving successes but also that these drugs are available to be seized.

See this speech in context