Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I am easily forgotten. I am glad to have the opportunity to make a brief contribution. The Ceann Comhairle will note I am the only Dublin person among the five speakers. I am anxious to make that point. I support the views my colleagues expressed regarding rural policing and difficulties but I represent a mainly urban constituency, although there are rural voters in Bohernabreena and Brittas and I am happy to support their views.

I compliment Deputy Flanagan and his colleagues in Fine Gael on giving us the opportunity to raise issues about which I know, from listening to the debate, we are all concerned. It was decided not to proceed with legislation on this issue for the present, pending the publication, as my previous colleague said, of a Law Reform Commission report on legitimate defence. A consultation paper was published in November 2006 which includes consideration of issues relevant to this topic and a Law Reform Commission report on a number of issues related to homicide, including defence of the home dwelling, along with a draft Bill, is due to be published before the end of 2009. I am told it would be premature to advance proposals on the topic before that report is published.

I will not disagree with this Bill - it is an issue of great concern to many of us. I have heard other colleagues make the point that we need to support the Garda in our communities. Some of the House will know I live in Tallaght, the third largest population centre in the country. Like everywhere else we face challenges as far as security and crime are concerned. At the South Dublin County Policing Board last Friday I took the opportunity, which I am always happy to do, to strongly support the Garda in its efforts on behalf of my community and the wider community. At that meeting we received a report which embraced the entire constituency.

My constituency is served by Garda stations in Tallaght, Crumlin, Rathfarnham and Clondalkin and there are issues about that administration which I will continue to raise with the Minister. We listened to a community report which referred to many issues of relevance as far as this Bill is concerned. I support the concept and will press the Minister to take action in this area. I appreciate the courtesy the Ceann Comhairle extended to me and I thank him.

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