Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have raised on numerous occasions the activities of criminal gangs in this country and the extent to which they impact on the lives of law-abiding citizens. The situation in north-west Kildare in particular has taken a bad turn in recent times. Over the past ten years or so there has been a noticeable increase in criminal activity in that area. It has grown gradually but has now grown to the extent that there is absolute contempt for gardaí and their families. As has been explained by my colleague, it has now resulted in gardaí and private citizens being personally intimidated and family members of gardaí families being intimidated and threatened. That is totally unacceptable. A strong response to that challenge is required. That response will determine the extent to which this kind of subversiveness - that is what it is - will be stood down. If it is not, people will continue to live in fear and gardaí will continue to live in fear.

Who will prevail? Will it be the gardaí, the forces of law and order, who represent the people and are entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the citizens of the State or are they to be intimidated out of doing their work? What is most important at this stage is that there be an urgent appraisal of the requirements throughout north-west Kildare in particular and Kildare in general, with a view to ensuring that adequate resources are put in place to deter any further illegal activity of a criminal nature, such as that to which reference has been made.

To my mind, there is a requirement for a new, fully-fledged, 24-hour Garda station in that particular area to deal with the issues. The danger is that if we allow such issues to go unchallenged, they will prevail and if that happens, we, the citizens, the representatives of the citizens, and An Garda Síochána are under threat.

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