Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Apropos of the issue raised by Deputy Finian McGrath on Leaders' Questions, given that the institutions of State appear unable to defend the people against the activities of criminal gangs and associated activities for criminal purposes, would it be possible to identify proposed legislation with a view to introducing them in a consolidated Bill which would impact more severely on those congregating for criminal purposes and who seem to have been able to do so for the past ten or 15 years while we have been raising this issue in the House? There is promised legislation such as the criminal justice (proceeds of crime) Bill, the criminal justice (victims rights) Bill, the criminal justice corruption (consolidation) Bill, the criminal law (human trafficking) (amendment) Bill and the criminal law (sexual offences) Bill, all of which have been promised for some considerable time, I might add, while the main Opposition party was in government.

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