Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his solidarity with the people of Longford. He set out clearly the specifics of the Garda operation under way in Longford and the fact there have been almost 7,000 incidents related to an operation launched in 2019.

The reality is that businesses and retailers are facing into what will arguably be one of the most uncertain times in their trading lives with soaring energy costs and a cost-of-living crisis. The traders and businesses of Longford town face the additional challenge of violence on the street and the public consciously deciding not to visit the town, not to shop there and not to socialise in their county town. It is an enormous additional and wholly unreasonable burden to place on a town. It is a burden that has now plagued Longford for almost a decade. These acts of violence and public order violations are a stain on the decades of toil, passion and absolute dedication and devotion that are synonymous with Longford and on the selfless sacrifice that helped to make Longford a leading light in provincial Ireland. An extra five to six officers, boots on the ground and a rigid application of the bail laws would allow us to put the colour and swagger back into Longford. It is not a big ask but it is one we make with deference and a heartfelt sense of absolute necessity.

I thank the Minister of State and the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this issue tonight. At a time when we are starting to see real and significant progress in job creation and investment in Longford, the near incessant linking of the town with violent crime is highly demoralising. Longford remains one of the best places to live and work and is definitely one of the best places in Ireland to do business. It gives me no pleasure to paint the picture I have painted here in the House this evening. I thank my colleague, Councillor Seamus Butler, who instigated this very public appeal for additional gardaí. I know that Garda allocation remains the domain of the Commissioner but it is important that he hears the concerns I am raising here tonight, which are the heartfelt concerns of the people of Longford.

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