Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Flanagan for bringing this important motion before the Dáil tonight. I was in Thomond Park last night and the people of Limerick and Munster stood in silence for one minute as a tribute to the late Mr. Shane Geoghegan who was brutally murdered by ruthless individuals in Limerick. The people of Limerick want this issue solved. Enough is enough and I add my voice to the appeal on "Crimecall" last night for anyone who knows anything at all to come forward and bring these ruthless individuals to heel and lock them up for life. What they have done must be dealt with in a firm way and a sentence of 25 years for murder must mean 25 years.

I read the transcript of the Minister's speech last night and he said he would provide all the necessary resources to solve the murder of Mr. Shane Geoghegan. The Minister and the Government have not done enough. I proposed practical measures in the emergency debate last week, I reiterate them now and propose some other items that should be looked at. The gardaí in Limerick are doing a very good job under extremely difficult circumstances with a lack of resources and proper legislation. They are conducting house to house searches and everything possible to apprehend the murderer. The report of Mr. John Fitzgerald on social deprivation in Limerick, which was commissioned by the Government, looked for the establishment of a properly resourced CAB in Limerick and that should happen as a matter of urgency.

Much of the gangland crime in Limerick is directed from Limerick Prison. I put the issue of the blocking of mobile phones in and out of Limerick Prison to the Minister last week and we must also look at the licensing of prepaid mobile phones. We must destroy the network of drug barons nationally. People in Limerick and elsewhere who are using recreational drugs must realise they are creating the demand for these drugs. Without the demand, drugs barons would not exist. People who use drugs must take on board that they contribute to these murders.

The issue of drug dealing must be looked at on a Europe-wide basis. We have a huge coastline that is impossible to police fully. The Government should seek to police drug dealing on a Europe-wide basis. Most of the drugs entering Europe come through Ireland. Our coastlines are not properly policed and the Government should look to the EU to help deal with this problem.

I call on the Government to establish a task force to look at gangland crime. The task force should be headed by a former member of the Judiciary and should report within a month on how to tackle the issue. We want the issue tackled in Limerick. We want resources provided so that by apprehending the murderer of Shane Geoghegan we can properly remember him.

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