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

I reject the Deputy's analysis of resources. If anything, the previous Government has been keenly aware of the need to invest resources, as they became available, in the Garda Síochána. During the period of economic difficulty, investment in the Garda Síochána was stopped for a period and this has had an effect. The figures available on gangland crime suggest the Garda Síochána was effective. There is a feud between criminal gangs intent on retaliation and with the very best policing in the world it can be very difficult to interrupt such a cycle. However, the Garda Síochána interrupted it in Limerick, where 24 out of 25 murders were solved, with major effort by the Garda Síochána and the local community and support from the Government. The same motivation is there in me as Minister, the Government and the local community, as I saw yesterday, to do everything possible to support people who live in those communities and to interrupt the feud and bring people to justice. These people are not outside the law. The law is strong enough. The Criminal Assets Bureau will also continue its work to target the proceeds of crime.

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