Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

That does not deal with the matter. The Taoiseach said no stone will be left unturned, no lack of resources will apply, there will be no legal restrictions and we will operate within the measure of the law. Everybody supports the Garda Commissioner. The House previously heard comments such as "the sting of a dying wasp" and "a watershed in Irish legal and criminal history" and we had five years of "zero tolerance". This is not a threat, as the Taoiseach said, because it has happened and nothing can bring back Shane Geoghegan. He was murdered, reputedly by somebody from outside on an execution order delivered by an individual or individuals involved in gangland war. This is a war and there is no point talking about threats. These people have no regard for human life, Irish society, the Government or our democracy. Treating them with an easy hand and a bland response is not good enough.

I would like to ask a number of questions about the legislative and operational frameworks the Garda is required to use in following through on the business of bringing criminals to justice and seeing that they go before the courts and, following the decision of the courts, to prison. First, is the Taoiseach happy with Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 in so far as it deals with gangs and gangland activities? The legislation contains a serious section dealing with the issue of gangs, membership of gangs, the consequences of membership and so on. Second, is the Taoiseach in a position to send out a clear message to those who commit murder and who are subsequently convicted that the minimum sentence should be at least 20 years?

Third, will he bring before the House, as a matter of urgency, the unfinished work of the previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell, dealing with the business of covert surveillance and the use of information obtained by such surveillance as evidence in bringing prosecutions? Prevention is much better than looking for convictions after a serious incident such as this. Fourth, why has the State not provided for a DNA database, when clearly we are at least a decade behind in the use of such technology, which is helpful in bringing criminals to justice?

Fifth, the Taoiseach will be aware of the gross extent of community intimidation where it applies. It is absolutely unfair to expect people to give witness identification at parades where they must face those who may be centrally involved. Why have we not come to a point in Ireland where one-way mirror systems are used, as apply in most other jurisdictions where witnesses do not have to fear intimidation when face to face identification is given? The previous five questions lead to the sixth. If the Taoiseach is not happy, does he see a situation where the Government will have to return to Special Criminal Courts to deal with this activity?

The Fine Gael Party will support the Government in so far as provision of resources, legislative changes and operational moves are concerned, which will see to it that persons who carry out crimes such as this, or who order that such crimes be carried out, are brought before the courts and justice delivered to them through the courts system and that they be implemented fully. A clear message should be sent out to those people. They have no respect for the Taoiseach, his Government, the people of Ireland or for human life. I offer our sympathies to the Geoghegan family. Let this be the end of it. Let us not have any more words about stings of dying wasps or watersheds or zero tolerance. This is a war; win it.

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