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

It is disappointing that once again we have to debate serious criminal activity in a provincial town that receives national coverage and has a significant impact on the lives of people in the town. It is, unfortunately, a product of the drugs industry and the fact that gangs that emanate from Dublin and that have spread into provincial Ireland are making substantial amounts of money from drugs. That is an issue with which we have to deal. Councillor Seamus Butler stated on a radio programme recently that we had to try to get their ill-gotten gains in order that people would realise there was no profit to be made or benefit to be gained from dealing in drugs. It is welcome that the Criminal Assets Bureau is becoming more engaged in seizing assets worth smaller amounts in order that people will be aware that there is no profit to be made from engaging in drug-related activity. I commend An Garda Síochána for its work and acknowledge that further resources have been put in place. Unfortunately, it appears to be a trend that is moving from Drogheda to Longford. We seem to be losing control of the dominance of the drugs industry. What does the Government intend to do to ensure we will not be here in a month or six weeks' time discussing criminal activity in some other provincial town?

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