Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Tomorrow night, the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, will refer to the issues raised by Deputy Charles Flanagan regarding Customs and Excise. I have made it clear in this House and I will say it again that I will listen to any constructive suggestions made from any side of the House on how to deal with the problem of gangland activities. However, I regret that the motion before the House is designed to be anything but constructive. Instead, it is a highly selective litany. For example, it mentions five gangland murders that occurred in the first three weeks of this year but makes no mention whatsoever of the fact that the Garda has been active in a number of these cases. Whatever the solutions are to the problems of gangland crime, they do not lie in crass motions that fail to acknowledge the difficulties faced by the Garda in tackling gangland crime or contain one word of commendation or encouragement on its efforts.

Let me be clear about one thing - the Government will continue to support fully the efforts of the Garda and the other agencies of the criminal justice system in their fight against gangland crime. This commitment is not mere rhetoric. Time and again, it has been backed up by ensuring that the resources are there, both legislative and financial, to allow the Garda to get on with its work. As I have previously stated in the House, the fight against these gangs is going to be a long one and will be waged relentlessly. There will be setbacks, but it is wrong not to acknowledge the Garda's successes in bringing those involved to justice. Indeed, the pressure we are experiencing on our prison accommodation is in many cases a reflection of those Garda successes.

The Garda faces severe challenges in dealing with gangland murders. In some cases, persons who have been identified by the Garda as being at risk not only fail to co-operate with it, but seek to thwart it at every turn so as that they can get on with their gangland activities. When persons are murdered, their associates offer no assistance to the Garda. Witnesses may also be subject to high levels of intimidation not to come forward and it is to assist such witnesses that the witness protection programme is in place.

Of course, the criminal justice system has a role to play in attempting to stop these killings. The Garda will continue to do all it can to bring the people involved to justice. However, let no one forget that the blame for these killings does not lie with the failings of the Garda or the Government. Rather, it lies clearly with those evil perpetrators who show a complete disregard for the value of human life.

It was partly against the background of the difficulties in obtaining evidence in these cases that, last year, I introduced two groundbreaking Acts, namely, the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act. The motion before the House refers to the absence of any convictions under this legislation. It seems hypocritical on a breathtaking scale for a party that wanted to dilute and delay the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act to complain now about the fact that convictions have not yet been secured under it. The facts of the matter are quite simple. Since the legislation was enacted six months ago, the Garda has been utilising it fully to build up cases against those involved in gangland crime. Some files are with the Director of Public Prosecutions and more are being prepared for submission to him.

Of course, like anyone else involved in the criminal justice system, I feel frustration that it inevitably takes time to gather evidence that will stand up in court against these people. However, we are a country governed rightly by the rule of law under our Constitution. I assure the House that, however long it takes, the so-called godfathers involved in gangland activities will be targeted under this legislation. Over time, I am confident that the legislation I introduced will be seen to have been a vital turning point in the fight against gangland activities.

If we had taken Fine Gael's approach, the legislation would have been diluted and delayed for God knows how long.

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