Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is not the first time I have stood in this Chamber to talk about crime. I want to make a few specific points about the escalating situation in County Tipperary. Last Thursday night there was a large public meeting in Moyle Rovers GAA club, which illustrates the growing public concern about the levels of crime and criminal activity.

The first point I want to make relates to the Garda Commissioner's decision to remove a chief superintendent from Tipperary. We have always had a chief superintendent based in Thurles. The county is 140 km long, stretching from Portumna to Carrick-on-Suir and for the Garda Commissioner to suggest that Tipperary does not need a superintendent is ludicrous. Obviously, this will result in a reduction in the resources being deployed into Tipperary because we will not have a chief superintendent fighting our cause at the Garda Commissioner's table. I cannot understand how a county the size of Tipperary can be left without a chief superintendent.

I am sure the Minister of State will say that this is an issue for the Garda Commissioner and is not within the Minister of Justice's remit but at the end of the day, we are elected by the people. For the Garda Commissioner to decide that a county the size of Tipperary, stretching from Mullinahone to Limerick Junction and from Portumna to Carrick-on-Suir, does not need a chief superintendent is just not on. This decision has to be revisited and addressed. My understanding is that the chief superintendent has moved from Thurles in recent days and has been relocated to Limerick.

The other issue I want to raise is our trespass laws. We have a growing problem with people going around rural Ireland and getting up to various activities in rural areas. Gardaí say that they do not have the power to do this or that to tackle it. We need to strengthen our trespass laws. If someone is found on property without good reason, he or she must be prosecuted and the penalties need to be a lot more severe than they are currently. People are going around rural areas under various umbrellas, including walking dogs and so on. Illegal hunting is also going on and is a huge issue. There are gangs with lurchers going around, engaging in illegal activities. They are going around and gathering information which is definitely contributing to the crime spree. I was talking to a man this morning whose tractors were emptied of diesel the other night. Another constituent is being constantly called to by people who are going around the area on leisurely walks. She is so afraid in her home now that she is sleeping in an outhouse. She is convinced that she is going to be broken into and believes that if she is in an outhouse, at least she will be able to get away from these gangs.

We need extra Garda resources and the legislation on trespass must be improved and strengthened. If people are found in a place where they have no right to be, the penalties must be severe and serve as a proper deterrent against marauding gangs in rural areas. In the last six months I have seen an increase in the number of people contacting my constituency offices who are seriously concerned for their safety. We need to start with our trespass laws. Furthermore, having no chief superintendent in our county is ridiculous. Those two issues must be addressed.

See this speech in context