Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I thank the Minister for his comments on my rotating in the Technical Group. I assure him that we have a group of very talented people in the Technical Group and I wish them well in the future.

I thank the Minister for his response and I hope he takes on board my views on the question I asked earlier because it makes one wonder when one contrasts the bravery and integrity of somebody like Steve Collins and his family with the carry-on in the tribunals. That is what people are saying on the streets. Does the Minister accept now that we need a new and radical strategy to deal with this violent gangland crime issue? Also, does he accept that we need more prevention measures? There appears to be too much emphasis on what happens after the killings. We need more prevention measures.

I raise another serious issue for which we and the broader society have a responsibility. Will the Minister accept there is a connection between the violence occurring and the consumption of cocaine and alcohol? Most gardaí, nurses and fire officers on the ground will tell one that the people who mix alcohol and cocaine are the ones involved in extremely violent incidents, and they happen every night in our communities. How will the Minister's Government deal with the huge market for cocaine?

The late Tony Gregory raised this issue many times, and I think of him here today. Will the Minister and his Government sit down with the anti-drugs community groups and senior gardaí and develop a new strategy to try to tackle this issue in the next two to three months?

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