Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

To take the first question first, the Garda is very conscious of the reality that more incidents tend to occur at weekends than during the week. I expect the new Garda roster will be of considerable assistance in this context and it is expected that it will start to operate from 1 April. That will allow for the organisation of gardaí in order to focus a concentration of gardaí in urban areas at weekends. That is a very important change which took some considerable time to bring about. I welcome the assistance and co-operation of the Garda bodies in discussing and negotiating these changes. That will be of additional help to the gardaí in regard to assaults which have taken place.

It is a continuing concern that young people drink alcohol to access at weekends and that what might be minor disagreements end up being violent incidents and that tragedies occur such as those described by the Deputy. I know he will understand if, as Minister, I do not address a specific incident as I do not want to prejudice any investigation or possible prosecution that might take place.

In regard to gangland issues and the barbaric shootings, unfortunately, we have within the community numbers of individuals engaged in drug gangs who have no respect of any nature for human life and who behave in a manner which is completely beyond the Pale and is unacceptable to the overall community. There have been incidents, of which Deputies are aware, in the past number of days. Indeed, only yesterday I had a meeting with the Garda Commissioner to discuss generally, as we do on a regular basis, issues of concern and steps being taken by An Garda Síochána. Gardaí are very much engaged in investigating the events that have taken place. They have a clear focus on those who have been engaged in some of these events. Again, I must be careful about what I say in the Dáil about these matters.

Unfortunately, we have drug gangs which are at war with each other. There are individuals in these gangs who develop grudges for a series of reasons and resort to a barbaric form of violence, willing to take life without any forethought.

I assure the Deputy and the House the Garda is specifically focusing on those gangs which need to be targeted. They are doing everything possible to bring an end to these incidents-----

See this speech in context