Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. She is correct in stating that we are talking about small gangs of out-of-control youths. I look forward to the commencement of the legislation to which she referred, but it is very important that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government send a signal to local authorities that they are expected to enforce their own code. There is no point in having a considered code to deal with the phenomenon of anti-social behaviour unless it is enforced. In my experience, local authorities are not enforcing the current regulations and as a result those young gangs believe they can do what they are doing with impunity.

I have seen very sad cases. There are some people who cannot peacefully enjoy their own homes.

I know of cases where people are afraid to go out at night and where women living alone feel vulnerable and exposed. I know of circumstances where, over Christmas, a single man's residence was broken into and the few bob in savings he had in the world were stolen while he was at work at night as a night watchman. They know his movements because they had tracked them. They were ready for it, they broke in and did damage. Sometimes they engage in wanton destruction just for the sake of it.

I thank the Minister. It would be important that the Government jointly would send out the signals that she has sent out. Community policing generally works very well but where policemen or policewomen are dragged off to do other tasks, there is a gap and it always needs support and backup.

This is the first Government since the mid-1990s that has not had a Minister with responsibility for a drugs programme. I respectfully say, as someone who supports the Government, that it would be a very good idea if a Minister of State were given explicit responsibility for the drugs programme. The national drugs strategy needs the kind of political focus that a Cabinet Minister responsible for the Department of Health cannot possibly give to what is a significant issue in parts of urban Ireland. Such an appointment should be considered.

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