Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)

I wish to share time with Deputies Michael Noonan, Lucinda Creighton, John O'Mahony, Terence Flanagan and Pat Breen.

I commend Deputy Charles Flanagan for tabling this Private Members' motion on behalf of the Fine Gael Party. In bringing various elements of gangland legislation before the Dáil last year, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated he could not stand by and allow our criminal justice system to be undermined. A previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, described gangland activity in Ireland as the last sting of a dying wasp. All this is fine rhetoric but in the rush to say the right things, this and the previous Government remain more concerned with perception than with substance. The criminal underworld in this State is not suffering from a recession. The drug-fuelled economy in which the gangsters operate is booming. Criminal gangs roam our streets and seem untouchable by the laws of the land. Five so-called gangland murders have taken place in this country in 2010. Far too often, innocent people have been in the wrong place at the wrong time and have tragically lost their lives.

There is no silver bullet or instant solution to solving gangland crime and it needs to be addressed in a number of different ways. Community policing is a vital, under-utilised tool in the fight against crime and in particular, gangland crime. Community policing should be at the heart of policing in Ireland. Communities throughout the country are demanding a more visible Garda presence, a more effective response to gun, gang and drug crime. At the moment, gardaí do not regard community policing as a career option or an area in which they can reasonably expect advancement. This must change. Garda organisational structures must be amended to reflect the focus on community-based policing. A special Garda rank should be created in order to encourage and incentivise the role of community gardaí. All the evidence shows that community policing works. I welcome the fact that the number of gardaí engaged in community policing is supposed to increase. We have been given a pledge by the Minister that the numbers will increase from 600 to 1,200. Additional community gardaí will garner more intelligence about criminals through closer relationships with the public. However, the extra community gardaí need to be appointed and put in place immediately and the creation of a special rank would be an incentive.

Another area requiring immediate action by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform is with regard to the significant numbers of gardaí who have left the force in the past year in particular. Due to the number of members leaving, a total of 32% of the force is now under the age of 30 and approximately 47% have less than ten years' experience. These statistics show that it is a very young and vibrant force offering much potential. However, allied to this is an exodus of experienced members which equates to a brain drain. Last year alone, three Assistant Commissioners, 12 chief superindents, 26 superintendents, 31 inspectors, 166 sergeants along with 466 gardaí, left the force. This has created a very serious situation. If these positions are not filled immediately, we run the risk of having a force with a serious deficit of leadership and experience. This has ramifications in the immediate term as to how serious crime and gangland crime are to be fought and it will provide an advantage to the criminals if the situation is left like this. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that all senior ranking vacancies in the Garda Síochána are filled immediately.

I wish to raise the issue of youth justice. Criminal gangs are drawing children as young as ten years into their criminal web. I have brought to the attention of the Minister on previous occasions reports of criminal gangs grooming children to hold guns and transport drugs. There have been repeated reports of teenagers pleading guilty to possessing guns, going around in bullet-proof jackets and possessing drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin. Last year, I brought this matter to the attention of the Minister, when I raised it in the House. He replied that to his knowledge, this did not appear to be an issue but that he would keep the matter under review. Just two weeks' ago, chief superintendent Gerry Phillips of the Dublin Garda division, spoke of a 14-year old holding guns and drugs for gang members in the hope of earning his stripes within his criminal gang.

Week after week, frightening court cases emerge involving gangs grooming children to run guns and drugs for criminal gangs. It is high time the Government acted. The crime of grooming children for the purposes of criminal activity should be introduced. Strict penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences, should be handed down to those crime bosses. Any gang members prepared to hide behind and use children, should be treated more severely by the courts using specific legislation. If the Minister does not do this, then the good work carried out in the area of juvenile justice runs the risk of being exploited and ultimately weakened. There will be no grand gesture or flashing lights solution to gangland crime.

It is interesting to note the parallels with our juvenile justice system. For the first time since 2003, youth crime is reported to have fallen and this did not happen by accident; it happened because of a combination of factors, including the introduction of the Children Act, the establishment of the Irish Youth Justice Service, together with a focus towards steering young offenders away from prosecution and towards rehabilitation instead. I also wish to acknowledge the work of juvenile liaison officers and the role of Garda youth diversion projects.

A long-term view is required. I ask the Minister to accept the Fine Gael Party motion.

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