Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this very important subject. We have a major problem with youth crime and especially with child exploitation. There is a major issue with children being enticed into criminal activity by adults, especially in the drugs scene. Drug dealers are providing drugs to young people. Often, these are free in the first instance. Those young people and children then get hooked on drugs. They have no ability to pay for those drugs, so then they become drug runners doing the dirty work on the ground for drug dealers. This is a major issue and it constitutes child trafficking. We know that children in State care, in particular, are extremely vulnerable due to their own family situations and, of course, the shortcomings in State agencies. It is unthinkable that the Government brought in legislation last year to reduce the sentencing for adults who entice young people into drugs and criminality.

On the topic of drugs, there is a major problem right across this country, including in my constituency of Mayo, in relation to the drug dealers harassing young people for drug debts. Any of those young people cannot pay the drug debts. Many emigrate or leave their areas. Drug dealers then harass their parents and grandparents. I know of a family in County Mayo where an aunt and uncle have been harassed by drug dealers. We need to get to grips with this issue. We need tougher sentencing for drug dealers who seek to recoup debts from the families of the children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews involved. It is shocking that many families are living in fear. I know of some cases where farm equipment was stolen to pay for such debt. We need tougher sentencing on a whole raft of issues, but especially concerning the drug issue. Most especially, we need them for drug dealers and adults who use children as pawns to do their dirty work. It is happening on an organised basis. We all know it and we need to get to grips with it. What is the future for these young people we see in gangs around shopfronts doing dirty work acting as runners for drug dealers? What is their life expectancy? If we do not tackle this issue, we will create another generation of young people, young adults, who will be forever in the criminal justice system.

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