Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this debate on the report on community policing and rural crime by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality. I commend the joint committee, especially the Chairman, an Teachta Ó Caoláin, on the report. The report emphasises the importance of building trust and strong relationships between An Garda Síochána and local communities.

I am sure the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, will agree that citizens deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities but there are many citizens in rural areas who feel isolated and vulnerable. Never was there a greater need for policing within the community - the Minister will be aware of the details - with the significance of this being especially evident in recent months in my constituency of Louth. I shall focus my remarks on this.

Several weeks ago the joint policing committee in mid Louth held a public meeting in Dunleer. I thank the joint policing committee and everyone who attended that meeting because they did so in defiance of drug pushers and their associates. The meeting was called to demonstrate solidarity with a local family facing extortion and violence from drug gangs, to discuss the drugs crisis facing families and communities and to hear from An Garda Síochána about its efforts to address the scourge of illegal drugs. It was a great example of the strength and merits of community policing. Local people were united with An Garda Síochána and standing against the law breakers.

Along with councillors Ruairí Ó Murchú and Pearse McGeough I went on to meet with the family. I had met them previously. In making this stand against the threats of drug gangs this family is facing real danger. Their home has been attacked. They live in a relatively isolated area and they are being very brave and courageous. The family has the comfort of knowing they have the support of their neighbours. The family is not just making the stand for themselves: they are making a stand for all of us - for the Minister, for me, for the Acting Chairman and for those people who live in their locale. I appeal to anybody who has any information at all on law breakers, especially on the incidents when this family was attacked, and on drug pushers, to give that information to An Garda Síochána.

The most important information we were given at the meeting that evening in Dunleer was from Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan who told the meeting that we do not have enough gardaí. I am aware that additional gardaí have been sent there, which I very much welcome, but the chief superintendent told us that last year he was over budget and this year he will be over budget. He elaborated on why Garda stations are only part time and why some barely open at all. It is clear that if one wants boots on the streets with gardaí on the beat and in the local Garda stations it cannot be done without the capacity or the resources.

The chief superintendent also said that there are not enough resources for the support services for drug addiction. From battling with the Government on the issue I am also aware of this. I commend the organisations, many of which are voluntary, that help those in drug addiction and their families. If one speaks to any of the people at the coalface of this matter, and God forbid it would happen to any of our families, they will say that they do not have the resources. They will say this in Dundalk, in Drogheda, in Dunleer, in Carlingford and other such districts and neighbourhoods across the State. The communities do not have proper mental health resources. Our health service is starved of the means of providing a holistic service.

I commend the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, for turning up for this debate because I raised this earlier as a Topical Issue matter but for the second time the Minister for Health did not bother turning up.

Chief Superintendent Mangan made a striking point at the meeting. He said that if we fail to tackle the drugs crisis effectively we will lose a generation of our young people. There is an old saying in Irish, mol an óige is tiocfaidh sí, praise the youth and they will flourish. I urge the Minister to adopt the recommendations in the joint committee report. I ask that the Minister listens to Chief Superintendent Mangan and to the family who are taking this stand against these criminals, but especially to adopt the recommendations in the joint committee report, which the Chairman has pointed out was done in consultation with so many people who are the backbone of rural Ireland. It addresses many of the issues including the reopening of rural Garda stations, the need for additional Garda numbers and increased resources for An Garda Síochána. Negotiations for the next budget will commence shortly. Will the Minister commit to providing a significant increase in additional gardaí and financial budgets in the next financial year? Will the Minister commit to adopting the recommendations of this report, making sure that we do not let down those who make a stand against the drug pushers and those who, for many reasons, cannot make a stand.

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