Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I thank my colleague, Deputy Charles Flanagan, for bringing this very important motion before the House. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the ongoing deterioration of law and order under successive Fianna Fáil-led Governments. What the Government needs to do urgently is to increase the number of gardaí on our streets by at least 2,000. We need more gardaí on the beat and the necessary reforms to our justice legislation if we are to get a grip on crime. For too long criminals have been sticking up two fingers at the justice system and the gardaí. They are running riot in this city and are afraid of no one. Gun crime and organised crime are certainly out of control.

The stabbing to death last week of two Polish men with a screwdriver is very serious and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform needs to act to ensure this never happens again. I take this opportunity to sympathise with the families of the victims and the local community on this terrible tragedy. My party is calling for a six-month targeted operation by the Garda Síochána to take out of circulation all knives, swords and other offensive weapons.

The shooting of Garda Paul Sherlock last year shows how low organised gangs operating in this city will stoop. We need our gardaí to put these gangs out of business and make our streets safe again. After all one crime is one crime too many.

We have a major issue with illicit drugs, particularly the use of cocaine in society. Not too long ago a major shipment was retrieved off the south coast but how many shipments come through our country on a daily or weekly basis undetected?

We have much to learn from the likes of New York and other cities, particularly in terms of their attitude to zero tolerance and crime. New York city has dealt effectively with gun crime and knife crime and we need to learn from its experience.

To tackle crime, we need a more visible Garda presence on our streets and a larger Garda force. We need our force to be properly equipped. It is not good enough that gardaí must use their own mobile telephones or their own cars while on duty. The Government has a responsibility to gardaí to provide them with the necessary tools in order that they can do their job properly.

We need more CCTV cameras on our streets. CCTV is certainly a major deterrent in fighting crime and anti-social behaviour and more CCTV is particularly needed in black spots. In my constituency of Dublin North-East, I welcome the fact there are now two shifts of community gardaí with six new gardaí for Coolock station patrolling the Donaghmede area. These extra gardaí have certainly been of great benefit to my area and provide more cover for existing gardaí. However, more community gardaí and patrols are certainly needed in parts of my constituency, particularly with the increase in the population and the expected increase of 40,000 more people over the next eight years.

There are parts of my constituency which are black spots for anti-social behaviour and where there is a strong prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse. These areas should receive the most funding. In Kilbarrack, a voluntary youth body is looking for a youth cafe which I support. Youngsters should be encouraged to use their time more positively spending it surfing the Internet or playing pool in a warm encouraging environment rather than walking the streets. More work needs to be done educating our young people about the dangers of drink and drug addiction.

Alcohol and drug abuse cost the Exchequer billions of euro each year. Our accident and emergency departments are clogged up with drunks, especially at weekends. We need to change our attitude to alcohol and its link to crime.

Mandatory sentences should be enforced by judges, particularly in the areas of knife and gun crime. All criminals should be made to make a contribution to society for the sins they have committed. I hope the Minister will take these points on board and help make our streets safe again.

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