Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Charles Flanagan for bringing this important and crucial motion before the House this evening. The Fine Gael motion highlights the ongoing crisis caused by the drug-fuelled gangland crime that has sadly taken over our streets. It is constructive because it outlines the measures that need to be adopted by the Government if it is to tackle this serious problem head-on. Gangland violence is rapidly increasing in this country, sadly. It is outrageous that there were five gangland-related murders in the first three weeks of 2010. It highlights the fact that our streets are controlled by gangs, rather than by the Garda. The force urgently needs more resources and manpower to tackle this gangland crisis. Sadly, two of the recent murders took place in my own constituency of Dublin North-East. An innocent man lost his life when he asked the occupants of an apartment in Grattan Wood, Donaghmede, to reduce the volume of their music. Another man was gunned down as he walked to his girlfriend's home at Macroom Road in Coolock. It is evident from such killings that these criminals place no value on life. They know they will get away with such crimes, or will not be caught in the first instance.

Real people in real communities are living in fear of what is going on. They are annoyed with the Minister and the Government for not doing enough to tackle these criminals and ensure these murders do not happen. It is blatantly clear that the Garda is not being properly resourced and senior gardaí are not being replaced. The failure of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to impose proper sentencing for murder has increased the number of such crimes in this country. A life sentence should mean life. There is an urgent need for a discussion with the Judiciary on the sentences being handed down, which often do not accord with what they should be.

Fine Gael proposes that certain measures should be implemented to deal with gangland crime. We want a minimum mandatory life sentence of 25 years to be imposed on gang members. We want 24-hour surveillance to be implemented in all our airports and ports. It is a scandal that there is a proper X-ray machine in just one of Ireland's ports. Such facilities are needed to locate the drugs that are coming in, which are obviously fuelling the crisis in this country. Drugs are the real scourge of this society. The sooner this issue is dealt with, the better. Community policing should be the centre of all policing, as previous speakers have said. Sadly, just 6% of the members of the Garda are involved in community policing. That percentage has to be increased as a matter of urgency. I hope the Minister will listen to what Fine Gael has been saying. As a party, we have traditionally been strong on law and order. I commend my colleague, Deputy Charles Flanagan, for introducing this motion.

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