Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am quite disappointed by the Taoiseach's response. It is not just about gardaí and resourcing of the Garda, although the communities are very clear that they need additional policing. What is happening is not working. There have been seven murders in the space of 100 days. It is very challenging for the gardaí. Community groups have been pointing out that there has been a sustained erosion of the supports they once enjoyed. The root cause of this is the drug trade. We have had the absence of a Minister for drugs for quite a long number of years which has been a mistake. There is an absence of a deep strategy. Something had to happen - and it did happen - in Limerick to elicit an above normal response. One needs a consistent and sustained multi-agency approach to this issue from the bottom up. Community supports need to be put in place, education supports need to be put in place along with stronger out of the norm employment supports for the medium and longer term issues. In the immediate sense there is a huge issue around intimidation which is rife in that locality and with regard to the degree to which these gangs are controlling the scene there. It is at this particular point out of control. I ask the Taoiseach if he accepts my point about the multidimensional nature of this problem. It is not just one issue on its own. It really needs the Government to take a specific, focused, out of the normal response to the north inner city area to free the people there-----

See this speech in context