Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely thank my colleague, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, for bringing this Bill forward. It would be the fulfilment of the wishes of the people in a referendum held in the aftermath of the murder of Veronica Guerin. We need to get tough on crime and on criminals. The Department of Justice and Equality and the Government is not doing a sufficient job. It is not remotely interested in dealing with crime. Statistics have been massaged over recent years. The Central Statistics Office continues to regard them as being under reservation, which is extraordinary. I sincerely hope that the Garda Commissioner designate, Drew Harris - who I wish well - gets to grips with the matter of statistics. In that context I urge everyone to report every crime to An Garda Síochána to ensure that they are all recorded.

We see the failure of the Government's approach to criminal justice in the statistics that have been released on my own constituency today. Burglaries in the Ashbourne area have increased from 96 to 136; in Dunboyne from 47 to 84; in Laytown from 73 to 76; in Kells, a quiet town, they have doubled from 27 to 54; in Nobber they have increased from 12 to 18; and in Navan from 114 to 147. This is the Minister of State's record. It is the wishy-washy approach that we have become used to from Deputy Stanton's party , which used to be known as the part of law and order. That wishy-washy approach has to end.

Judges must be given their constitutionally proper roles but they must also be given guidance from the Oireachtas on the basis of the message of the people in the bail referendum more than 20 years ago. We must keep people on bail who are at serious risk of committing offences. Gardaí in my area have arrested various suspects in respect of burglaries committed there. They do fantastic work in bringing people to justice. However, while gardaí do their job and bring people to court, immediately these boys - and they are mainly boys - are let out on bail. They are gone again to rob, burgle, plunder and maim. That must end. The Minister of State must show the seriousness of his intent and his approach by supporting Deputy O'Callaghan's Bill. I sincerely hope that the House supports this Bill tomorrow because we have had enough.

The crime rate is too high and people are concerned. This has been a major issue on social media and so on in Dunboyne. The people there have noted that the number of burglaries has increased. They probably have not noted that it has almost doubled, but that is the feeling on the ground. The word is out there. People know what is happening to their neighbours. It is the same in Ashbourne, Kells, Navan, Nobber and throughout my constituency. I suspect the picture is the same throughout the country. I thank Deputy O'Callaghan and I call on the House to support this legislation tomorrow.

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