Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I very much welcome the opportunity to speak in favour of the Government amendment to the Fine Gael motion on gangland crime. I accept we must tackle, and are tackling, the root causes associated with gangland criminal activity, namely, social deprivation, poor planning, lack of community facilities, the need for urban regeneration and access to education, to name but a few. By their nature, those measures have a long-term focus and will not solve the immediate problem of vicious gangland activity.

The common denominator in gangland criminal activity is drugs. The drugs industry is an evil menace that poses the most grave threat to society. As long as there is a demand for drugs, there will be a corresponding supply, despite the best efforts of the authorities. The demand for drugs is an essential ingredient of gangland culture. Every drug user must accept some responsibility for the actions of the criminal gangs who service their needs. The Minister of State, Deputy Curran, has a huge responsibility in drafting the new national drugs strategy. I very much support him in that work. I applaud the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing and Threats initiative to which Deputy Costello referred.

It is with regret that I say many of our judges are completely detached from reality. It beggars belief that persons with multiple previous convictions who commit a further crime get light sentences in court. Soft sentencing undermines public confidence in the criminal justice system, affects Garda morale and encourages criminals to take the risks associated with crime.

Sentencing will form part of the forthcoming White Paper on justice and I am sure the public will clearly express its views on sentencing policy when the time comes. I welcome the fact that, by virtue of the legislative amendments introduced in the Criminal Justice Acts 2006 and 2007, as interpreted currently by the Judiciary, there has been a doubling in the mandatory sentences for certain drug offences in 2007 over and above 2006 levels. That is a step in the right direction. I would like to see the Judiciary implement mandatory sentences in far more cases. As we know, the mandatory sentence for murder is life, but the average length of time spent in jail for a life sentence is approximately 15 years. Those who commit murder, who wilfully go out and take the life of another human being, deserve to be put away for a very long time.

I commend the Minister on the work he and his predecessors have done in terms of a legislative response to the problems we face. In recent days he announced the covert surveillance Bill. That is an especially important initiative to assist the Garda in its work. The criminal procedure Bill will also be introduced, bringing an end to double jeopardy and enshrining victims' rights. The Minister also plans to introduce a DNA Bill and has provided funding for the initial steps to be taken to put that process in train next year. Those measures, in addition to the Criminal Justice Acts 2006 and 2007, will significantly enhance the capacity of the Garda to do its work and will assist the DPP to secure convictions.

If tackling the evil menace of gangland crime involves the loss of some of our civil liberties, then that is a small price to pay. At times when we introduce legislation we put so many safeguards and checks and balances in place, sometimes at the behest of groups such as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Human Rights Commission, that the purpose of the legislation itself can become ineffective.

As a country, we have a fundamental decision to make as to what direction we want to take in terms of handguns. If one has a liberal licensing regime for handguns, one must accept the consequence of those guns getting into the wrong hands. The Minister has instigated an urgent and intensive review of firearms legislation and that review is approaching its conclusion. I am sure he will make brave, courageous and perhaps controversial decisions on the outcome of the review. Those decisions will be necessary.

We must continue to follow the money trail in tackling gangland criminal activity. The Revenue and the CAB must redouble their efforts. We must hold the criminals to account for the wealth they have generated. The stakes involved are very high. The overt manifestation of criminal gangland activity we have seen in Limerick and Dublin will spread to other parts of the country if we fail in our duty. This is one battle we cannot afford to lose.

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