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

I agree with the Minister that this is not simply a criminal justice issue, but it is predominantly a criminal justice issue. The Minister for Justice and Equality is the person within the Government who is responsible for criminal justice and for the resourcing of An Garda Síochána. With respect to the Minister, it is not sufficient for him to simply state that he wishes the Garda well in these endeavours. The Garda needs more than to be wished well by Government. It needs to be given full and adequate resources to ensure that this vicious feud can be stopped, so that the people of the north inner city can be protected. If, as the Minister said, the following is incorrect, I would like to see his statistics on the matter but it was reported that armed patrol units in the north inner city have been cut by 30% and that the covert backup by the special detective unit has also been cut. If that is so, it needs to be reversed.

This is not the time to cut back on Garda resources just as the feud appears to be reigniting. Everyone in the House has a responsibility which the Minister has recognised to ensure the people of the north inner city will not be treated as second-class citizens when it comes to their protection. They are being exposed to a vicious, violent feud that is having a traumatic effect on families and young people in the vicinity. We have a responsibility to ensure we face up to it and the best way to do that is to ensure the Garda has the resources it needs. I ask the Minister to meet assistant Garda commissioner Leahy to ensure he is properly informed on whether adequate resources are being provided for the force. Why are extradition requests not being submitted to European countries in respect of gangland criminals against whom there is sufficient evidence that they are responsible for instructing others to kill people on the streets of this city?

See this speech in context