Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

One of the major challenges facing this country is the ability to deal with the disconnect between Crime Ireland and the Ireland of the law abiding citizen. Jessica Ward is four years of age today and, like any child, she would love above all to have her Dad present on her birthday. That cannot be, however, because somebody shot him dead last weekend. Unfortunately, Edward Ward is not the most recent victim of gangland crime. Last night, Gary Grant was shot dead yards from his home.

In Dublin last month, there was the gunning down in broad daylight of Garda Sherlock. Brian Downes was murdered at the weekend. Whenever one switches on the television or radio news these days, the first five or six items relate to gangland crime. People are being shot — many of them shot dead — on the streets, shots are fired into houses and innocent people find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. We remember Donna Cleary's death and the expressed wisdom of the Government that she was an innocent person in the wrong place. So too was young Anthony Campbell, shot dead because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. How many more Anthony Campbells, Edward Wards, Donna Clearys and Garda Sherlocks will there be?

Ten years ago, 38 murders were recorded for the year. These were murders rather than gangland hits. Of those 38 murders, 34 were solved, giving a detection rate of 90%. Ten years later, the detection rate for gun crime is 16%. So far this year, 14 gangland killings have occurred and firearms offences have rocketed by 600%. However, the detection rate for firearms offences has reduced from 75% in 1998 to 37% last year. Conviction rates are also decreasing. The question needs to be asked: "Who is in charge of our streets, Taoiseach? Is it the Government or the gunmen?

The Fine Gael Party will support Government measures to deal with gangland crime and crime in general. Why would we not? It is in all our interests to do so. Perhaps the Taoiseach will tell the House, following his meetings with the Garda Síochána and other persons involved in this area, what increased action will be taken by Government? We have been told the CAB will receive increased resources and facilities to enable it to do its job. Please explain in simple English what this means? How many officers and extra resources in terms of Garda vehicles, radio equipment and weapons for those who carry them and so on will be provided? What does the Taoiseach mean when he says the CAB will be given extra resources? What does this mean for the woman who spoke at the public meeting in Neilstown of her daughter having to pass through a team of drug pushers on the street corner on her way to school on Monday mornings? Will these people be arrested? Is this what the Taoiseach means when he says CAB officers will move down from the higher level operators? Will the Taoiseach explain, in plain English, what will happen?

I understand cocaine parties are now the rage at locations around the country. These parties are attended not by those impoverished on the streets but by those very much removed from that scene. Are we to see that issue tackled by the CAB as well?

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