Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to be able to speak earlier during the expressions of sympathy for Detective Garda Horkan. Like the late Garda Detective Horkan, many gardaí are left to work alone, as Deputies Lowry and O'Donoghue said.

I support the proposed measures and Deputy McNamara's amendment providing for a proper and decent independent review. All legislation needs a timely review.

The Minister mentioned the Omagh bombing, a horrific tragedy. That tragedy could have been averted, as the Minister knows. A former Taoiseach and leader of his party promised Michael Gallagher at a Fine Gael Ard-Fheis at which I am sure the Minister was a cheerleader that he would get justice under a Fine Gael Government. Has the Minister met Mr. Gallagher? The Taoiseach refused to meet him when he became Taoiseach. The anniversary of that horrific event is in August. I pay tribute to the deceased Garda John White from Cappa in Bansha outside Cahir, County Tipperary, who died a couple of weeks ago. He made gallant efforts to stop that bomb and put his life on the line. He did not get a lot of support. He could have saved 29 lives. Many lives had been spared in previous events in which he intervened. The Minister may not be returning but I wish him well in whatever he is doing. That needs to be recognised. A lot of things that should not be happening are happening.

While we have the threat from dissidents all the time, gangland crime is rampant. I look at Drogheda, Longford and other places. I have spoken here to the Minister about Clonmel. We expect gardaí to work in a horrible, Dickensian, dirty, filthy, at times rat-infested Garda stations. The Minister can frown all he likes but he has seen this, as have other Ministers.

The Taoiseach has seen it. It is unfit for habitation or work. These are members we depend on. I stood proudly outside it last Sunday at noon with Superintendent Leahy for a minutes silence for Detective Horkan. They need the tools of the trade.

We need the legislation, the numbers of members and resources to deal with the gangs in my county. There is a drug trade, and everything else that goes on, day and night. I introduced legislation here about scrap and precious metals. We know who is doing it, the dogs on the street know, but we cannot mention it; it is unspeakable. There are children of six and seven years used as mules and movers of drugs. Parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who are terrorised and intimidated visit my office regularly. It is not good enough. I salute the Garda for what it does with the numbers it has in trying to deal with it but when are we going to cop on here and decide that everybody is subject to the same law, regardless of ethnicity? We are all Irish citizens, our newcomers as well, and everybody has to be entitled to the same law but no, we turn a blind eye to it. It will come back and bite us - we all know where - and it will not take long. Houses are being burned in Clonmel because families do not want other families getting it. I led a deputation to the county council with former Deputy Healy and others about a house in Clonmel. They were all questioned. I was not, thankfully, as I was not going to co-operate. A public representative bringing in ordinary decent people and I always co-operate. Four gardaí investigated it but this marauding intimidation of a community goes on and on. Tipperary is now losing its chief superintendent, who is going to Clare. The Minister says there is nothing political about it but I wonder. That is a downgrading.

I support Chief Superintendent Smart and thank him, as well as the superintendents and those in other ranks in the district. However, we simply do not have enough. I again appeal to the Minister to retain the Garda community units that he reinstated, albeit in leased cars. They are a presence and have proved their worth no end. They have done everything from taking beehives out of roofs to delivering babies and looking after all sorts of issues for ordinary decent people.

I also wish the best to Superintendent Pat O'Connor in Tipperary district, who is retiring this week. I thank him for his long and distinguished career. I also wish well a garda in my own area who was the community alert liaison officer who was promoted to sergeant recently. He is battling illness and I wish him well in that. He has been the essence of a community garda, of the people and with the people. If a garda stands with the people in their kitchens, they will support him or her. No police force can work without the support of the public but when the public is intimidated by gangs, there is a very serious situation. These powers and laws should be used to deal with these courts because members of the Garda are being intimidated and threatened where they live. It is very serious. I welcome the opportunity to support this motion and I will support Deputy McNamara's amendment.

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