Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Flaherty has again outlined the fact that businesses, retailers, citizens and communities need to keep safe. Tackling organised criminal activity remains a key priority for this Government. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I are very conscious of the repercussions such criminal behaviour can have on the quality of life of residents and local communities. It is important that people feel safe and are safe in their communities. Again, I am familiar with this issue. It is not nice to listen to the bad news emanating from Longford. These activities are carried out by people who do not have the goodwill of the people of Longford. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter.

To look at what has been done, there are currently 6,761 incidents associated with An Garda Síochána's operation in the area. All resources in the Longford district are actively targeting the issues surrounding the feud with 206 arrests effected and 454 charges preferred. Some 54 of these charges relate to violent crimes including assaults, violent assaults and knife crime. That is a shocking statistic. I thank the men and women of An Garda Síochána for the incredible work they do, which sometimes goes unnoticed. I also want to thank the communities and people of Longford, the Deputy and the other Oireachtas Members from the county, the local representatives and all of the various stakeholders for standing up and raising this issue. By tackling it together, across the community, with the help of An Garda Síochána and all of its resources, this situation can be resolved. I hope it can be resolved quickly.

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