Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I welcome this emergency debate. Yesterday in Limerick, I attended what was probably the saddest funeral I was ever at, and I never again want to attend another funeral like it in Limerick. This is only possible if the Government tackles head-on the criminal gangs in Limerick. Legislation, extra resources and action are necessary to enable this.

A small group of ruthless individuals are causing havoc in the city. A Garda commissioner said yesterday there were some 40 gangland criminals in custody in Ireland, which shows the depth of the problem. At the funeral yesterday, Fr. Jim Maher encapsulated the mood. He said that Shane's death would mark a turning point leading to a greater intensification of the existing efforts of so many, to short circuit the cycle of violence and confine it to history.

The intensification must take two routes, that is, extra resources and extra legislation. While we must all work together as the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea remarked, the power lies with the Government to initiate legislation and introduce it. The Opposition can agree to it but the Government must first take action.

I commend the work of the Garda Síochána in Limerick and its crime detection rate. However, there have been 32 murders in Limerick since 2003, 16 of which were gang related. This is 32 murders too many. The issue is not detection, but rather prevention. Emergency legislation is required. Recently the Government introduced emergency legislation to provide for a bank guarantee scheme. No one lost their lives in that instance, but people are losing their lives at the moment and I regard emergency legislation to deal with gangland crime as a good deal more necessary. We should be discussing legislation today.

I sought an emergency debate on gangland crime in Limerick on 9 April last. The Ceann Comhairle will remember it was granted by way of an Adjournment debate, following the death of Mr. Mark Moloney. Since then, there have been further murders including the death of Mr. Shane Geoghegan. His family are in mourning, but our job is to discuss the resources and legislation that must be introduced to ensure this never happens again. I suggested several straightforward measures in the Adjournment debate on 11 November. The Minister indicated he would address these and he has done so, but he has not provided any concrete suggestions.

I called for the appointment of a Garda commissioner in Limerick with the sole remit of leading an Operation Anvil type system to tackle gangland crime in Limerick, including 24 hour surveillance of the criminals. We must track their every movement. We must establish a specific CAB unit in Limerick. There are people involved in this work already but we seek a better resourced unit. I called on the Minister to provide a second judge for the Circuit Criminal Court to speed up the legal process. I welcome the introduction of the covert surveillance Bill and that the Special Criminal Court ruled yesterday on restrictions to the right to silence. Membership of a gang should be a criminal offence. We face a situation where people's lives are under threat on the streets of Limerick. That requires an emergency response. The Government must look at using the Special Criminal Court to ensure that these criminal gangs can be dealt with. Furthermore, I want the Government to facilitate gardaí going into court to obtain exclusion orders. I also believe we should block mobile phones in and out of Limerick Prison, because they are being used to direct operations.

We need action from the Government. I want to see the Government coming before the Dáil with emergency legislation that ensures this can be dealt with, and that the memory of Shane Geoghegan would be respected in this fashion.

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