Michael Kennedy (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)

We would hope so. As I recall from my own experience, our society has always had a problem with underage drinking, although it may be worse now than ever before. What is different from the past is that drugs are now part of many young people's lives. Much of this comes down to parental control and supervision. It is particularly regrettable that some young people who take drugs go on to become drug pushers and ultimately hoods who have no problem with carrying guns. Parents must bring their influence to bear on their children. The recent newspaper reports about the 14 year old in Limerick who was arrested wearing a bulletproof vest are indicative of the mindset of some young people. A 14 year old should be wearing his or her club colours or school uniform, not a bulletproof vest. It is reprehensible to discover there are teenagers wearing bulletproof vests and carrying firearms which they may be willing to use. Young people should be encouraged to become involved in sport and other youth activities within their communities. A teenager from Limerick should be thinking about the Munster rugby team or the Limerick hurling and football teams instead of who he or she intends to shoot or maim.

Communities must be proactive in terms of observing what is happening in their midst. For example, many drug barons live in apartments in urban areas from which they run their drugs empires. Local residents should be more observant of people who do not interact with them and whose activities are clearly suspicious. While neighbourhood watch schemes have always been used to counteract petty crime, they can also be useful in monitoring more serious issues such as drug dealing.

I read a newspaper report today which described how a well-known gang burgled several premises in Tipperary and Limerick yesterday. Following a high-speed chase, those involved were apprehended by gardaí in Limerick. Two vehicles were written off and there were three arrests. The gardaí were aware of the identity of these people but are constrained in the actions they can take against them. If the surveillance measures provided for in this legislation were in place, these individuals might already have been in prison instead of being free to ransack the countryside and put other motorists at risk. It is fortunate that they were apprehended and that neither of the gardaí involved in the car chase was injured, even though their car was written off. It is no longer acceptable that individuals who are known to the Garda are at liberty to go on a rampage of looting and shooting.

I read in recent days that the family of the late Roy Collins in Limerick are now receiving death threats, presumably from the same scumbag thugs who killed their loved one. This type of intimidation can no longer be tolerated. That is why tough legislation is required. I welcome the broad support for the Bill from most human rights groups. These little scumbag pups cannot be allowed to dictate to our society.

Earlier this week, a public meeting organised by residents of Dolphin House flats in Dolphin's Barn to discuss drug dealing in the estate was disrupted when local gardaí received a telephone call stating that a bomb had been planted on the premises. Sure enough, a pipe bomb was found outside the building. The thugs operating in this estate are painting the names of community gardaí working in the area on walls and buildings. This Bill must be put in place as soon as possible so that such individuals can be brought to justice. The sooner these drug barons and all their accomplices are behind bars the better. Law-abiding people will welcome the introduction of this legislation.

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