Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar dtús báire, is mian liom a rá gur uafásach ar fad é an méid atá tar éis tarlú, ní hamháin in Stoneybatter ach i rith an deireadh seachtaine. Déanaim comhbhrón le clann Quham Babatunde a fhuair bás agus leis an duine a bhí gortaithe mar aon leis sin. Níl sé sásúil gan amhras in aon chor. Tá plean ag an Rialtas agus ag an Aire Dlí agus Cirt, an Teachta Jim O’Callaghan chun an méid gardaí atá ann a mhéadú agus a dhéanamh níos láidre, chomh maith le dlíthe eile a thabhairt isteach. Beidh níos mó gardaí ar na sráideanna san am atá le teacht. Tá na huimhreacha ag méadú. Níl aon amhras faoi sin. Is olc an scéal é, áfach, nach bhfuil daoine in ann dul ag obair nó dul timpeall na sráideanna gan an baol agus dainséir seo go mbeidh ionsaí ann. Is uafásach ar fad é.

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this important issue with me. My thoughts are with the deceased, Quham Babatunde, and his family and friends, and the other victims. We also think of the victims of the attack in Stoneybatter, which was an appalling attack on people going about their daily lives leaving their homes and walking along the streets.

One has to condemn the level of violence involved. We must be very clear and absolutely intolerant of people carrying knives in their possession if they go out for a night's recreation. This is a growing phenomenon. It is reprehensible and is putting the lives of people in danger. There is a wider societal piece we must focus on in respect of all the factors that give rise to the level of violence we are experiencing and which individuals are getting involved in.

The Deputy raises a valid question regarding the bail laws. It is clear to me that people should not be granted bail if there is a risk they might commit a serious crime or offence. The bail laws have been comprehensively strengthened in recent years by a series of Acts in 2007, 2015 and 2024 in terms of increased penalties. The Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation Act 2024 increases the penalties for several knife-related offences under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. That includes an increase of five to seven years in the maximum sentence for the offences of possession of a knife, trespassing with a knife and producing a knife to unlawfully intimidate another.

In respect of our bail laws, the decision to grant bail in a particular case, as the Deputy knows, is solely a matter for the judge. There are various guidelines the court must have regard to, particularly any persistent serious offending by an applicant and, in specific circumstances, the nature and likelihood of any danger to a person or to the community arising from the granting of bail. I accept we must keep the bail laws under constant review for both the constitutional rights of individuals but also the rights of citizens, victims and potential victims of people who commit crime on bail. That is something the Government will continue to assess. If we can make it tighter, we will, but obviously in a way that is constitutionally allowed. The bottom line is there is no tolerance on the Government side in respect of these crimes. They are reprehensible and should be condemned.

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