Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle. I find it laudable, despite the fact they did not use up all their allotted time, that Government representatives could find so much to say about a programme for Government that actually says so little. However, I want to specifically address issues of community safety, policing and justice. As Sinn Féin spokesperson on justice, home affairs and migration, it is my intention to hold this Government to account to ensure that people across this State have safe communities, a fair and efficient justice system they can have confidence in, and that the chaos in our migration system is ended so we can have a fair system that works for everyone.

We live with the legacy of serious Government failures and neglect in all of these areas. These are failures of both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, does not get to wipe the slate clean and pretend that his party, that have been either in government or supporting Government for the last nine years, has no responsibility for the situation we now find ourselves in. A sense of safety for people in our communities, our cities, our towns and rural communities is crucial for people's quality of life. For many, this is what is actually missing. They do not feel safe walking through the streets in their own community. They do not feel safe, particularly at night, and they do not feel safe on public transport.

Garda numbers have declined at a time when the population of the State has increased. The closure of rural Garda stations has undermined the sense of security in many rural communities and has also made the gardaí feel more distant from those they serve. There is a particular problem, of course, in our capital city that is very evident. Under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the situation in Dublin has seriously deteriorated over recent years. Anyone who has walked down O'Connell Street or from O'Connell Street to Busáras or Connolly Station will quickly testify to this. People just do not feel safe walking around parts of this city, particularly after dark.

Just this past weekend, we have had a number of very serious incidents across Dublin city. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the fast response of the Garda Síochána in these instances, a reminder of why response times are so important. However, obvious questions have arisen. Are bail laws adequate and are they enforced? Why does it seem that so many serious crimes are committed by people who have been released on bail? The immigration Act gives powers to the Minister to deport those from other states who are involved in serious crime. Are these powers utilised, and if not, why not, considering such moves would be in the common good and would be welcomed, including by the vast majority of those who have made Ireland their home and contribute positively to our country and communities?

Public confidence in our system of justice is undermined by the inappropriate imposition of concurrent sentencing, by a lack of consistency in sentencing for serious crimes and by too many incidents of crime committed by those on bail. While the independence of the Judiciary must be respected, we cannot turn a blind eye to these issues and allow them to undermine public confidence in our judicial system. We need to ensure that crime is prevented and we need to ensure that where crimes are committed, justice is served.

There needs to be delivery from this Government in terms of Garda recruitment. I have heard the Minister encouraging people to join the Garda but the issue is not the number of applicants, it is the lack of intake and a Government failure to deliver trained gardaí to our streets. Our justice system must be supportive of the victims of crime. Delays within the justice system means that victims cannot get on with their lives. Families impacted by homicide and the victims of rape and sexual assault are retraumatised by these delays. I want to see delivery from the Government in terms of the time it takes for victims of crime to get justice. The long-standing promise of a domestic violence refuge in every county must be delivered, including those which are desperately needed and long-promised for in counties Monaghan and Cavan, for example.

Crime prevention is also about being tough on the causes of crime, as well as in tackling recidivism. Following the economic crash, cuts stripped out many communities of services, support for youth projects and facilities. How we build strong communities, how we design estate and town centres, what we do about dereliction and neglect, what facilities we put in place, what opportunities people have and how wealth is distributed in society all matters in the wider view of how we prevent young people being drawn into crime and how we make communities safe.

It is my intention to hold the Minister to account on all these matters.

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