Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Garda have been successful in some of these cases. I agree these people need to be locked up with lengthy sentences. Although I have seen some briefings on some of these cases, I am not sure whether those involved are criminal gangs or individuals. That, however, should not stop us. We must make an example of some of these hardened gangs or individuals who act for their own reasons and sometimes for related family reasons — we have had a few such cases of late. We must clamp down hard on serious crime. It is neither acceptable nor something that any of us wants to see continue.

Being tough is the only way to deal with crime, through detection and prison sentences, which seem to be all that people understand. We have tough laws and wherever they are lacking, the House has always shown itself ready to bring forward more Bills. We have more criminal justice Bills than other legislative measures before the House in any year, whether to give the Garda numbers or resources. We have a young force now and many special units. We must encourage them and give the Garda every resource possible to deal with criminals because what they try to get away with is unacceptable.

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