Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)

My motion concerns the need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to address the serious anti-social behaviour in the Oxmanstown area of Dublin 7, particularly the vandalising of 14 cars last Sunday morning.

I condemn in the strongest terms the wanton damage caused to so many vehicles on 19 November 2006. At least 14 cars had their windscreens smashed in a trail of mindless destruction in the early hours of the morning. That is the number reported to gardaí, but we do not know how many others there were. In addition, a member of the Polish community was assaulted. The previous Wednesday, there had been a spate of tyre-slashing in the same area. Those are the instances regarding which residents have reported damage to gardaí. They do not necessarily represent the entirety of damage caused. We do not know the full extent of the mayhem perpetrated in the area in the course of a single week.

I gather that no one has been identified or apprehended in connection with the crimes. Some of the offences took place in areas covered by CCTV cameras, but no arrests were made. Perhaps the cameras are there for show or deterrence rather than serving any purpose regarding serious ongoing investigations. Local inhabitants are extremely worried that such wanton destruction should occur so regularly in such a settled residential community. They are further concerned that gardaí appear incapable of identifying the culprits and bringing them to justice, thus eliminating the problem.

Such serious anti-social behaviour causes fear and apprehension in a community with a high percentage of elderly people. It makes existence difficult and miserable for many, destroying their quality of life. Moreover, it is expensive for vehicle-owners to have their windscreens and tyres replaced several times a year. Whole communities should not be held to ransom by a small group of hooligans who run amok when pubs close at weekends or midweek. It is a sad reflection on the state of policing in the neighbourhood.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who should be here in person, regularly bluffs and blusters on various issues, but he has no answer and no plans to address those very serious problems, which are replicated across Dublin city and in other urban communities throughout the country. It is a disgrace that the Tánaiste has totally failed to address either gangland crime or anti-social behaviour after four and a half years in office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and he should seriously consider his position.

We clearly require a more comprehensive and targeted Garda approach, more gardaí on the beat, more in uniform, and more out at weekends so that rampages of this nature might be prevented and the culprits apprehended and prosecuted. At present, it seems that they can act with impunity, and only the certainty of detection and prosecution will put a stop to the mayhem. This small community has suffered greatly in the space of a week. The problem will recur at least once before Christmas, and the Tánaiste seems to have washed his hands of the matter. While he may have tossed his head around, he has not provided any solution, and we need answers. We cannot have such activity going on indefinitely or allow this anti-social behaviour to continue. We need action and results. I ask that the Tánaiste make practical proposals to resolve the situation and a commitment to put the necessary resources in place.

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