Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

The opening part of the Minister's response indicates complacency towards what anybody outside the House would regard as an upsurge. The Minister has indicated that last year's figure for gun murders was the worst on record and to say there has been no upsurge is not a satisfactory reply. I last asked this question on 9 November, by which stage there had been 16 gun murders in the State this year. Less than one month on there have been four more in Limerick, Ballybough, Swords and Drogheda. The number of one per week, giving an annualised rate of 52 for a full year, represents an upsurge in any man's language.

Will the Minister accept that the most depressing facet of all is the murder detection rate? The last time I asked for figures last year was indicated as having the poorest detection and prosecution rates ever for this type of crime. Of the 21 gun murder cases last year, only four were regarded as having been detected. Perhaps the Minister has updated figures. Proceedings had commenced in only two of the 21 murder cases.

With only a few weeks left this year we have already reached a figure of 20 gun murders, with an additional four murders in the past four weeks. Although I salute the Garda for Operation Anvil, does the Minister accept that there is a new criminal gangland culture that needs a different approach? The targeting and monitoring indicated by him must be greatly increased to ensure these thugs who are seen to act with impunity and with no regard for human life will be taken off the streets.

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