Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

It makes life very difficult, Sir, for the conduct of business in the House when motions and so on are lumped together. My colleague, Deputy O'Shea, has a matter of concern to raise, for example, on No. 23 but it has been lumped together with everything else.

No. 22a provides for arrangements for a phoney sitting week. The Dáil will reconvene on 24 January 2007 and the motion states: "(i) there shall be no Order of Business within the meaning of Standing Order 26; (ii) there shall be no Leaders' Questions pursuant to Standing Order 26A; (iii) oral and written questions shall not be taken; (iv) Private Members' business shall not be taken; (v) matters may not be raised under the provisions of Standing Orders 21(3) or 31; (vi) the taking of any divisions shall be postponed until immediately after the Order of Business on Wednesday, 31st January, 2007". That is a window dressing week to facilitate the Government.

Meanwhile, we have a crisis on our streets. Even the changed demeanour of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform betrays the gravity of the situation. It is appropriate at this time of year that we pause to reflect on the number of families who will sit down to Christmas dinner without their loved ones and on completely innocent citizens going about their daily work being slain in the circumstances we recently witnessed. It is not appropriate that the House should adjourn and arrange a phoney sitting week such as this without the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform saying clearly when there will be an opportunity to discuss the law and order situation that afflicts the country.

I offer the Minister the support of the Labour Party for any reasonable measures to get a grip on this crime wave. There is no point flailing around blaming others, including the Judiciary for the manner of the implementation of mandatory sentencing and so on. This is driven by the crime racket that has infested communities with drugs in many areas. The large, lucrative profits that can be made from the drugs trade is the direct cause of the murder and mayhem, which threatens the lives of innocent citizens.

See this speech in context