Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to give my opinion on the renewal of the powers to address the gangland crimes that have become all too prevalent throughout the country, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Investment in restorative justice programmes and other schemes such as those that tackle juvenile crime and addressing the reasons people become involved in crime are important. I give my full support to the continuation of the legislation in the interests of protecting the jury system and ridding the streets of people who commit these heinous crimes, in particular tiger kidnappings which strike terror into families and communities. Many people in local post offices have recently been the victims of these savage crimes. Where some of these offices have been threatened with closure, finding people to keep them open will be difficult. It is a public duty, but they would be threatened by criminals.

We cannot forget the good work of the Garda is undermined when intimidation prevents the prosecution of those involved in organised crime. I am neither afraid nor ashamed to say I have some experience of the jury system. I understand the vital public service provided by jurors on a daily basis up and down the country. I hope this legislation will strengthen the Garda's powers to detain and rearrest. Above all, I hope it will allow law-abiding citizens and their families to live our their lives in peace and harmony.

I do not agree with everything stated by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. In many respects, it has exaggerated its points. The recent visits of Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama showed the good work being done by the security forces. That a few people tried to wreck these visits in the name of the Irish people was wrong.

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