Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her statement. Every year we come to the House to examine the Offences against the State Act. The clear difficulty we have in this country with organised crime gangs, in particular international drug gangs, is something for which we all share an abhorrence, given the toll they take on communities the length and breadth of the country, especially in inner city areas where drugs are a serious problem. The legislation has come under scrutiny for many years from international players who identify difficulties with it that need to be resolved. I am grateful that at last a review of the legislation is under way. It must be progressed as quickly as possible.

I am reassured by the Minister saying an interim report is expected soon. I hope that before we return here this time next year not only will we have the report but we will make changes to the legislation to ensure that it is robust and stable and does not attract any attention from international human rights observers in the way the present legislation does. We need robust legislation. We must be able to defeat the criminal elements that run amok the length and breadth of the country and internationally. We see the international element of it with the recent cyberattack on the HSE and what it has done in respect of it. We are all very conscious that we need good laws. We need firm laws and for the Garda Síochána to be properly resourced to deal with these situations.

Today, we received the quarterly report on crime figures for the first quarter of this year. We see that crime has reduced. If there is a lesson to be learned from that, it is that the presence of gardaí on the streets and visibly doing their work in the community has an impact, as they have been throughout the pandemic. That is one of the good news stories of the pandemic. Burglaries and assaults are down while the seizure of drugs and arms has increased. It is very clear from the report that we should all take solace from the fact that the work of An Garda Síochána on the streets is having an effect.

Tomorrow, the Commissioner is going before the Policing Authority to speak about the cancellation of 3,000 emergency 999 calls. It would be appropriate for the Minister to at least apologise in solidarity with the thousands of people who were let down by the Garda in respect of this serious issue. If she can, it would be appropriate for the Minister to address the issue in her closing remarks and to apologise to those people who have been let down. There may be many more who have been let down in a similar way.

To return to the legislation before us, a review is taking place and it should put us in a new place. I hope that is what will happen. For that reason, we will not oppose the legislation this year. I will hand over to Deputy Daly to make some concluding remarks.

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