Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Conaghan and Ó Snodaigh for raising this important matter. I would like to record my outrage at the appalling incident last Friday where a young child was shot at Croftwood Gardens, Ballyfermot. As the Deputies know, a major Garda investigation is under way. I spoke to the acting Garda Commissioner about this incident when I met her yesterday and she assured me progress is being made with all necessary resources deployed. An Garda Síochána is determined to bring to justice those involved and I know it has the full support of the local community in identifying the perpetrators. Clearly, anyone who has information which could be helpful to the Garda should pass this on immediately.

I am further advised that a Garda liaison officer has been appointed to assist the family and that an incident room has been established in Ballyfermot Garda station to investigate this incident which is being overseen by a senior investigating officer.

As the Deputy rightly said, gun crime represents a real challenge for policing and poses significant potential for harm in the community, in this case, unfortunately, in the form of very serious injuries to a young child.

Garda strategy for tackling gun crime involves targeted and intelligence-based operations, often disrupting and preventing incidents before harm is caused, as well as detecting and prosecuting those involved. Much of this work goes unheralded but it is carried out with great determination by the men and women of An Garda Síochána, who can themselves face great risk in taking on armed criminals.

The robust Garda response to violent crime has led to firearms offences decreasing last year by 7%, and the number of crime incidents in which a firearm was involved was also down, by more than 7%. However, I accept all the points made by Deputy Conaghan on the horrific nature of the incident. The precise deployment of resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I have discussed the policing situation in Ballyfermot in general terms with her and been assured that the Garda is working with the community and providing the best possible support on the ground. I am informed that at present there are 198 gardaí in the Clondalkin-Ballyfermot district.

The sale and possession of legally held firearms in this jurisdiction is highly regulated. However, my Department is currently conducting a review of firearms legislation after which I will engage in broader consultations ahead of preparing any legislative changes arising from the review. Ahead of completion of the review, I would point out that our criminal law already rightly provides heavy penalties for weapons offences and mandatory minimum penalties are in place for certain firearms offences. The Garda also has considerable powers available to it in tackling serious and armed crime, and they have been supplemented further by the recent DNA database legislation which has just been passed in both Houses. The Bill was completed last week in the Seanad. When established, the DNA database will have the capacity to link suspects to unsolved crimes using forensic evidence, and will greatly assist the Garda in investigating crime.

The acting Garda Commissioner is aware that if she believes other legislative measures or steps would assist in tackling armed and serious crime they will be given the most serious consideration by me. I take serious note of the views expressed by the Deputy during the debate. Our thoughts are with the family of the young victim of this shooting. We are concerned with the well-being of the family during this very difficult period and look forward to the recovery of the victim. I visited St. Ultan's in the past. I am very struck by the range of initiatives and work that, as Deputy Conaghan, rightly pointed out, has been done by the community of Cherry Orchard in the past 30 years and the significant community work in which everyone engages. Deputy Conaghan is familiar with the work the Garda is doing with local youth groups. The local youth diversion programme has proved very successful. There are also two major Garda operations in the area: Operation Hybrid and Operation Domino, which are both designed to provide a proactive response to organised crime in the Dublin metropolitan region.

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