Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I wish to share time with Deputy Mary Alexandra White.

There is a need to consider the aspects of criminal law that may need strengthening in regard to the recent callous and brutal murder perpetrated by awful criminals. It is good police work that will solve this crime. The investigation into the murder of nightclub security guard Brian Fitzgerald took five years but ended with the conviction of two men, who are now serving life sentences. We can talk a lot about the need for new legislation but good, honest-to-goodness police work will be at the heart of solving the terrible crime that has precipitated the discussion we are having. Considerable resources are being devoted to solving it. There are 50 gardaí involved in the investigation and there are over 620 gardaí in the Limerick division. The emergency response unit has been deployed in the region.

In the obviously heated discussion on what occurred in Limerick, it is important the protection of people's civil liberties be considered in tandem with ensuring the perpetrators of the crime are put behind bars. We must always strive to strike this balance and ensure the call for finding the criminals is addressed in conjunction with the issues that arise in respect of penal reform, recidivism and education. It is not often that such issues are discussed in this House and it is important to stress them in this debate.

I am pleased there has been a 20% increase in funding for the Criminal Assets Bureau. It has done fantastic work over recent years. By seizing the assets of those engaged in illegal criminal activity, regardless of those criminals' place in the drug or criminal food chain, the bureau is sending out a clear signal that the Garda will not tolerate drugs gangs and will pursue them vigorously, as much through focusing on the spoils of crime as on the commission of crime.

It is very important that there be more gardaí in the community. I am delighted there are 27 gardaí on mountain bikes in Limerick at present. One obtains good information from people by walking and cycling the streets. Good work is being done and I hope we will bring the perpetrators of the most recent murder in Limerick to justice.

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