Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The brutal and callous murder of Shane Geoghegan has horrified and appalled every right thinking person across the country, but especially in Limerick. Our city has had to endure several cruel and horrific incidents perpetrated by a small number of people who continue to show contempt for the value of human life. Shane's killing and the pain this has inflicted on his family, friends and sporting colleagues remind us of the wanton killing these people are prepared to perpetrate in our community.

The united and clear message we must send from this House today is that this murder, and the other crimes and violence we have seen, will be met with the full force of the law, within the law. As both the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform have previously indicated, significant legislative proposals have been enacted with the support of the House in every effort to provide, at the request of Garda, whatever powers it deems fit. This will continue. It is essential we build on the successes the Garda has secured in its fight against crime in Limerick. The Garda has doubled and redoubled its efforts in combating the criminals. The Government and the Garda Commissioner are putting the manpower, assets, supports and resources in place on a demand-led basis.

This House cannot let the impression be given that the State is not collectively working to tackle the situation in Limerick. Significant Garda resources have been put into Limerick. In the past five years the number of gardaí in Limerick has increased by almost half. Since 2003 there have been 32 murders in Limerick, 16 of them gangland connected and 16 that were not. The gardaí have detected ten of the 16 gangland murders and 14 of the 16 non-gangland murders. This is an impressive detection rate by any yardstick. There is, and has been, 24 hours per day, seven days per week covert and overt surveillance in Limerick on a constant basis over the past number of years as part of Operation Anvil. Divisional 24-hour armed patrols, supported by the regional support unit established in September and the emergency response unit, supplement regular Garda patrols. Patrols are also augmented by the deployment of personnel from outside the division as required.

The Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform have assured the Garda Commissioner that any additional assistance needed, whether legislative or by way of resources, to deal with the Limerick criminal gangs, will be forthcoming. The Garda Síochána continues to undertake a range of investigations and operations to curb organised criminal activity in the general Limerick area, concentrating on depriving the criminals of the profits of their criminality. This includes activity by local detective units in conjunction with locally based divisional asset profilers and the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB.

Last May, the Garda Síochána carried out a variety of searches as part of Operation Platinum, following which the Criminal Assets Bureau sought a number of court orders. Notwithstanding the current economic climate there is a 20% increase in funding for CAB this year. As well as a high and unceasing level of frontline activity, community policing is a very important part of the Garda response, and such units have been increased in strength in Limerick. In addition, CCTV cameras are now working constantly in the city centre and in some of the major estates in Limerick.

The Garda Commissioner met with the investigating team in Limerick last Tuesday and has set out how the Garda will continue to deal with this threat and, specifically, with those who perpetrated the heinous murder of Shane Geoghegan. The perpetrators of this crime, and those who protect and shield them, will not prevail. The action we are taking, both through the criminal justice system and the range of social, community and educational supports we are putting in place via the regeneration programme, will succeed. We are absolutely determined that those who murdered Shane Geoghegan will be caught and put behind bars. Whatever differences we may have in this House, we can at least be united in this goal.

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