Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Táim ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis an Teachta Seán Crowe.

Gabhaim buíochas as an deis labhairt ar an ócáid seo, go háirithe nuair atáimid ag caint ar cheist na coiriúlachta. Ba chóir dúinn ár mbuíochas a ghabháil leis An Garda Síochána as a gcrógacht agus as an ghairmiúlacht a léiríonn siad san obair os a gcomhair.

Cosúil le gach mór-eagras, bíonn droch úlla ann ach ní hé seo an t-am le deileáil le sin. Don chuid is mó, an tromlach mór san Garda Síochána, déanann siad a n-obair go dian agus go dícheallach, gan na acmhainní cearta nó an tuarastal ceart. Go minic ní fheiceann siad na torthaí cearta as an obair a dhéanann siad ach oiread, toisc an tslí atá an córas dlí sna cúirteanna agus a leithéad leagtha amach. Is toisc sin gur chóir go mbeadh muid ag díriú isteach ar seo, ach go háirithe agus Rialtas nua á bhunú agus ag leagan amach na priarachtaí gur chóir go mbeadh ann maidir leis an nGarda Síochána agus an córas dlí agus cirt ina iomlán.

I mo cheantar féin, tá a lán fadhbanna ann agus tiocfaidh mé ar ais chucu sin. Le díriú isteach ar an gceantar é féin, I represent a great community with a big heart and a big spirit. They are ordinary decent people, in the main, who just want to get on with their lives, raise their kids in peace and have a job if they can get one. The problem is that for many years they have had to live with the fallout of a vicious and violent feud between rival gang factions in the Crumlin and Drimnagh area, which has left more than 15 young people dead as a direct consequence, while many more have died because of the criminal activities in the background which have led to this, particularly the drugs trade. Many of the gangs involved in that trade and in the shootings that have become all too common in Dublin live in that constituency, and their families have lived in the constituency for many years. Some started off as low-level drug dealers, others as low-level criminals who were involved in robberies and burglaries. They have come together and they are now some of the most vicious criminal gangs in this city, with tentacles spreading far beyond the area of Crumlin and Drimnagh. Some of them are overseas and seem to have tentacles spread throughout this State. They are not representative of the community and they should never be allowed to pretend that they represent or dominate the community.

For many years I have called for a dedicated task force similar to the one that was set up in Limerick nearly ten years ago to tackle the major gangs that frequent and live in the Crumlin, Drimnagh and south inner city area and parts of Ballyfermot as well. There are other areas in Dublin that have the same type of activity undermining communities. Many in these communities live in fear and are intimidated by the gangs. They are not willing to come forward and work with the police in any way because they have their family members to think of. As a society, we cannot allow that to continue unchecked for any length of time. The problem is that in my area in many ways it has been unchecked, despite the best attempts and successes of the Garda Síochána. In fairness to the Garda Síochána, it has been quite successful in interceding and hampering the activities of these gangs, but without a dedicated force and a dedicated approach, what we will find is that the next generation will join the gangs because they see young drug dealers and criminals flaunting their wealth with their flash cars, jewellery and foreign holidays. That attracts young people to the gangs. It is the biggest challenge for us, and I have asked not just the last Minister for Justice but several Ministers before that to use the CAB to target low- and mid-level criminals. Otherwise, we are walking away from a problem that we need to spend a lot more time on.

See this speech in context