Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On Deputy Bruton's point, I believe not just in the replication of the north-east inner city Dublin model but also, and I was in the Liberties recently, in the initiatives of the early 2000s in the revitalising areas by planning, investment and development, RAPID, programme and the idea of a multi-sector and multidisciplinary approach to particular communities. It was one that worked.

We need to recreate something along those lines. Embracing a whole range of inputs, from housing and education to community enhancement, in terms of facilities, amenities and sport, was a system that worked in providing supports for people within those communities and it is something I intend to pursue. In response to Deputy Quinlivan's points, what I have just said also applies there. His points seem to be more around the operational side of An Garda Síochána and the need to deal with the drug gangs in a particular community in Limerick. We will certainly engage with the Department of Justice and Equality and the Garda on that. I have no doubt that the Garda has been very effective in many communities, to be fair, against many such gangs. The moral of the story in terms of how the gardaí apply themselves is that people may be giving two fingers but they do not give two fingers for too long before they are apprehended and dealt with before the courts.

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