Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

I thank Deputy Cuffe for sharing time.

We all have been really traumatised by the recent events in Limerick and by those in other areas over recent years. I refer in particular to the recent death of Shane Geoghegan.

I wish to remind the House of the problem surfacing in many small towns and rural areas in south Leinster because of the ravages of drug abuse. The drug barons are speeding down the M9 to places such as Carlow and Kilkenny with their awful loads and are ready to supply drugs to those who are addicted. The demand for illegal drugs, particularly cocaine and heroin, is very pronounced in Carlow, a town with a considerable heroin problem at present. The drugs come from Dublin. The vicious circle is such that people in south Leinster have experienced shootings in houses and the awful effects of gangland crime. We need to tackle it and do so in a sophisticated manner.

The resources which the Government is providing to the Garda are vital and welcome. In this regard, I am glad CCTV will be made available in Carlow in the next three weeks. It will play its part. I value the 20% increase in funding for the Criminal Assets Bureau next year. This is of tremendous help, as is the important work associated with Operation Anvil.

Having been assaulted myself, I know what it is like to be the victim of crime. I know also how competent members of the Garda are. The Government is addressing the problems of gangland crime but we must be mindful of the small rural towns, such as Carlow and Kilkenny, that have drug problems. These are the breeding grounds for future gangland crime. Otherwise, debates such as this in the wake of the recent death of Shane Geoghegan, will continue to provide an all too familiar backdrop.

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