Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too am delighted to be able to speak to some extent on this Bill today. It is vital that we talk of early intervention for any of us who have children, teenage children or, in my own case, grandchildren and for na daoine óga throughout the community - mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí. That old adage is a strength to us. There is a huge difference. It was a much simpler time when they were brought up in their homes with the meitheal. They did not have the Internet and we did not have these perpetrators of heinous crimes.

I welcome this legislation to try to protect our children from predators and people who try to use them for drug trafficking or traffic them in any way, shape or form. It is obviously necessary. It is grand to come in and introduce legislation here, as we have with much legislation, and talk about the justice system. We see how the numbers in enforcement agencies, whether it be An Garda Síochána, the juvenile liaison officer, JLO, system or Garda diversion programmes, have been ransacked and ravaged by the crash. They were starting to beef up numbers and get fairly strong before the crash in 2008 but they have not got those numbers back in any shape, make or form.

Like Deputy Nolan and others, I want to compliment the Garda Síochána and different JLOs we have had. I have worked with two or three of them in my time in politics. The do, and have done, some amazing work but they cannot move a mountain. They cannot be everywhere. County Tipperary was a massive division. Now, it is amalgamated with County Clare, which is a pure ridiculous situation. The chief superintendent is now based in Ennis. We have to go through County Limerick to get to Ennis. It is taking away the local connectivity with An Garda Síochána.

This legislation today is to deal with this huge problem we have with young people being sucked into all kinds of horrific situations. On drugs alone, it is just scary. We are all aware of it. It is anecdotal that young people are being used as mules - I hate using that name - in my own County Tipperary and other places to transport drugs. Children as young as eight and nine are cycling around and everything else.

We are also aware of different cases where An Garda Síochána made extensive searches, and drugs that were sent to schools in schoolbags have been detected. That people are prepared to do that with young people - their own families even - just beggars belief. We are kind of sleepwalking. We have sleepwalked into this situation. As Deputy Nolan mentioned in reference to Laois and Offaly, our drugs task force in Tipperary is diminished beyond all recognition. Places like the Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir and every town and village in the country have problems, as we know.

To try to nurture and save our young people is what this Bill is meant to be about. I agree with and welcome the provisions of section 2. However, are we going to have the personnel? Are we going to have the resources? Are we going to have the different Government agencies like Tusla and others that should be involved? Indeed, we all mention education, which is very important from the cradle to the grave. However, the school curriculum is already stretched and overloaded. We are going to have to change our curriculum to deal with na daoine óga and the people who could or will become vulnerable. We have data that will tell us what kind of demographics or situations they come from.

As I said, the Bill is necessary, but we need to have resources. We need to support the JLOs. One JLO cannot deal with half a county. They deal with people, and they have done great work, as have the Garda diversion programmes. As I said, however, they have not been complemented with staff. We must also look at that.

We have situations now, which has been discussed on the public airwaves, of food outlets being tormented by young people, and you hate to see it. When they are under 12 years old, the Garda cannot deal with them. I am not saying Tusla seems to think it has no responsibility, but it does not have any responsibility. I have many serious issues with Tusla. This issue has been all over the public airwaves, however. People have discussed it and the managers of outlets cannot deal with this situation. Then, the gardaí are involved and they cannot deal with it. It is an awful pity to see that happening because we do not want any young person or child to be induced, seduced or encouraged in any way. I welcome the provision in the Bill to make that an offence. It is very important.

How are we going to engage withna daoine óga? Many of these children might be outside the school system as well. As I said, Tusla would normally have responsibility for children in any kind of danger but in this area of criminality, it does not seem to be able to deal with it. Serious questions have to be asked about the resources and tools of the trade for officers of the law and, indeed, whatever new officers we encourage. It is not all about uniformed gardaí coming in. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.

We should try to encourage and stimulate them. Youth clubs have to be supported. We must try to get them into organisations such as those but we are failing to do so. That is true in my county and I am sure it is no different in many other counties. There is a highly professional drug trade going on and those involved use very old and very young people to further that trade. The operation is sophisticated and hugely financially rewarding. This legislation on its own certainly will not tackle the issue. Children, as I have said, are put in considerable danger. There is a danger to them and to everybody else. Those children do not know better than not to enter such a life. It is a serious issue. In fact, it has reached crisis point in many areas. People seem to want to ignore it but we cannot do so. All of us in this House have a duty to do anything we can to protect our most vulnerable young people and get them on the right road.

It was different when we were young. We were dealt with in different ways but we were encouraged and there was no proliferation of drugs or other heinous issues that exist for children today, such as those relating to child sex, pornography and everything else. Those issues were not there in my time, at least not so far as I was aware. The Internet and new forms of communication mean it is possible to possess and use certain things wrongfully. We need this legislation but legislation alone will not cut it unless we commit enormous resources. We do not have those resources. There are issues in respect of recruiting gardaí to the Garda College in Templemore. Community gardaí should have a big role in this area but their numbers have been diminished considerably. Community gardaí did tremendous work. I could name some people but I will not. They did tremendous work in the communities, and they still do but their numbers have been greatly diminished. There are only two community gardaí in Clonmel, which is a large town. There was a sergeant and five gardaí only a couple of years ago. Those are the people who get into the communities. They get involved in community activities in youth clubs and homework clubs. They also visit schools for sports days and whatever else. They got involved but they do not have the numbers of resources to do so now. We are losing the game. A lot of catch-up is being played. We need stronger and more robust legislation than this Bill to deal with these issues. We need a sea change in attitudes towards what is going on. What we do not need is a nod and a wink or for a blind eye to allow the situation to carry on. We cannot say it is fine and dismiss it as an issue of the underworld. It is going to have massive consequences. I am supporting this legislation but I do not believe it goes far enough.

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