Dáil debates

Friday, 23 March 2007

Criminal Justice Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed)

 

3:00 pm

Photo of Charlie O'ConnorCharlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I wanted to make that point on drugs crime and to demonstrate to Deputy Shortall that I am not afraid to grasp the nettle when I need to do so.

One of the issues I continue to tackle, and pursue the Minister on, is CCTV for my constituency. There is a programme which I hope will provide CCTV for Tallaght sooner rather than later.

We are all sensitive on the point that we are in the last couple of months of this Dáil but the election has not been called yet and while the public suggest everything we do relates to the election, I do not believe that. One has to keep doing one's job and keep one's focus. I do not believe I am looking for a job. I have a job and will complete it up to election day. The public can then decide what they want and what they want me to do for the rest of my life. I am happy with that. In the meanwhile, however, I will continue to raise the issues of concern to my community, as I have in this contribution. As in other areas of Dublin, CCTV is an issue in my constituency and I hope the Minister will continue to give it attention. We were disappointed when it was not included in the pilot programme. Perhaps that is fair but I had hoped account would be taken of Dublin South-West in this regard. I hope we can now look forward to CCTV being provided.

People sometimes smile when I refer to Tallaght but we should remember it is the third largest population centre in the country, has a huge youth population and has the kind of issues one would expect to have to deal with in any major urban area. It is no different from any other part of Dublin.

If he does not mind, I am glad to acknowledge Deputy Gregory, who was always my hero when I was a humble community worker.

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