Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As I stated, it is a case of be silent or be next. The Taoiseach rightly referred to the difficulties the Garda have in getting witnesses to come forward. Deputy Charles Flanagan raised the issue of a witness protection programme. I accept this is not the answer to all these problems.

I was asked a few short years ago to meet a person serving on a witness protection programme. The meeting which took place on a dark street in this city was not a pleasant experience. The Taoiseach will recall I communicated this to his office at the time.

The Fianna Fáil programme published ten years ago states: "We still have it within our power to arrest the growth of crime and roll it back. Unless we act effectively now we will have a very different and unpleasant Ireland in five years time and, it will be five years too late." The Taoiseach's response to the effect that society should not tolerate violence is of no comfort to the public who expect the Government to live up to its fundamental responsibility to protect citizens. I agree this cannot all be fixed by providing extra funding in a Vote. However, there is a need for greater understanding of what is happening in communities. It has been said to me by people from these communities that despite the provision of facilities and good people to work with young children, many of these children go home to hell. Geography, environment and circumstances dictate that ruthlessness and complete unconcern for the rule of law applies in many of our communities.

I would like if the Taoiseach could look, perhaps in a different way, at what happened following the murder of Veronica Guerin when the Government of the day sat on these warlords and drug barons and put them out of business. This is what people want. There is a carrot and a stick here. In 2007, people are entitled to live in a degree of peace and security and they look to the Taoiseach and to the Government to provide whatever resources are required and to take whatever action is necessary to deal with these issues.

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