Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the need for an emergency response to the siege of Dolphin's Barn by criminals, culminating in the appalling events of the last two nights, which included the targeted vandalism of up to 30 cars, the planting of a suspect device in an attempt to subvert the community meeting and riots into the early hours of the morning. This is on top of the escalation of open drug dealing and the recent targeting of community activists.

There is a need to recognise that this is a direct challenge by drug dealers to the role of the law, to which An Garda Síochána must respond effectively. It must be recognised that this situation is the product of years of neglect of the area by successive Governments and of the collapse of regeneration prospects. There is a need for a meeting to be convened before the situation further escalates involving the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Garda, Dublin City Council and the community to agree a solution to the current crisis and for all available powers to be employed to restore normality to this community and protect those individuals, in particular, who have been targeted. Such an initiative must include the seeking of emergency exclusion orders against the dealers involved and swift enforcement against any subsequent breach of same.

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