Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)

I concur with previous speakers on the urgency of this Bill. Having studied it in great detail over recent days, I know the problems it addresses put members of An Garda Síochána at an extreme disadvantage, which is why the swift passage of this legislation is of great importance. We are fighting highly organised crime and we need An Garda Síochána to be able to take swift action when it comes to the issuing of search warrants. Since the Supreme Court judgment on search warrants in February 2012, many Garda investigations have been held up or even interfered with. We need to be practical and sensible about this issue.

For example, an investigating garda could be in possession of vital information about the whereabouts of a firearm that may have been used in a particular crime. However, it may be necessary to act on this information quickly. It is not as though the garda can dilly-dally, waiting to get the warrant and execute it. In such cases, the Garda Síochána needs to act swiftly, and that is why I am supporting what the Minister is trying to achieve in this legislation. It is for the greater good. We are at a time when outrageous and serious crimes are being perpetrated every day. We have had horrible situations recently of bombs left in places which have caused serious injury to children. There are incidents of shots fired into windows of houses at night.

The Garda is really up against it. The force is poorly resourced and cutbacks are hampering and interfering with its work on the behalf of all law-abiding citizens. Being a garda, a sergeant, an inspector or a superintendent is a difficult post. While I will not say they are losing the war against crime, it is being put up to them by these highly organised and financed people engaged in all forms of illegal activity. Any work we can do politically through this Bill to ensure Garda investigations are assisted by the swift implementation of search warrants must be commended.

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