Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Some 11 days ago, a 27 year old man was brutally murdered when he was lured to a place close to Cloverhill Prison. He was murdered because of his name and as part of an ongoing feud that has, for the last number of years, dominated certain parts of this city. Six days ago, there was another example of this feud and its damaging influence when gunshots were fired outside of the National Stadium on South Circular Road. Two men were injured. It was thought that one of the targets was a 40 year-old man. The Garda stated that this is part of the ongoing feud, the Kinahan-Hutch dispute that has now been going on for two and a half years. Then, two days ago, we saw another brutal murder. A man was brutally murdered on the North Strand simply because of his association, it appears, with the Hutch family. He too was only 27 years of age.

These murders are brutal and cowardly for very many reasons. First, they are brutal and cowardly because, as happened with the man who was murdered 11 days ago, people are lured to places against their will. They are brutal and cowardly because people attack victims from behind as they are getting into a car and shoot them in the head. They are brutal and cowardly because individuals are targeted because of their name, or because of their friendship with a particular family. Most of all, they are brutal and cowardly because of the damaging and traumatic influence and impact the violence is having on the community in the north inner city, a very proud community that wishes, like any other, to ensure that its children are brought up in a safe and peaceful environment.

Unfortunately, that has not happened. Over the last two and a half years or so, approximately 15 people have been murdered as a result of this feud. It is simply unacceptable and we, as legislators and as politicians in this House, have to re-emphasise consistently that it is unacceptable. I know there is no one, easy solution to this problem. I know it is ongoing criminal activity that can only be resolved through investment in local communities, resources on the ground and responses by the Legislature to issues that must be raised. They are the responsibility of different groups throughout society. However, one of the entities - in fact, the entity - that has the most power to effect that change and fight this criminal activity is the Government. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan, is the Minister in this Government responsible for ensuring that the people of this city, the people of the north inner city, in particular, are kept safe.

I want to know what the Minister for Justice and Equality is going to do about of this. Something has to be done about it. I want to know if, since he has the power, the Minister proposes to bring forward changes to the law. I was particularly concerned when it was reported recently that the armed response unit and the special detective unit may have been subject to cutbacks. We need to ensure that the Garda presence in the north inner city, which has been very effective over the last two years or so, is maintained. We cannot just take our foot off the pedal in the hope that this problem will go away. It has not gone away. It is still there.

Of course, the Minister is the central authority in the State for matters pertaining to extradition. I know it is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, but why is it, if individuals are masterminding these criminal acts from outside the State, that no steps are being taken to bring them to justice within this State.

See this speech in context