Dáil debates

Tuesday, 7 November 2006

2:30 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I heard some reports that the Taoiseach referred to a utopian Ireland at the weekend. Olivia Crawford did not realise that her son had been shot until he collapsed in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor. Jordan Crawford was a lucky child. Gardaí stated that he could have received multiple injuries if the machine gun had not jammed. Jordan Crawford's family was already on a warning because its home was riddled with bullets on Thursday night.

The drive-by shooting in Limerick at the weekend was different because unlike others that were gunned down in a war that has exploded on the Taoiseach's watch, Jordan Crawford was not known to the Garda and is not associated with the underworld. He is only five years of age. Instead of joining in providing class news at his school, Jordan is the news and is lucky to be recovering in the sunshine ward of Limerick Regional Hospital. This is all apparently because he took a bullet that was intended for his uncle but it is all actually because the Government has failed spectacularly to deal with serious crime, particularly that which is gang-related. The new recruits or gunmen who carry out such crime are not men at all, they are children. Psychopathic gangs are recruiting children who have no fear, respect, personal boundaries or moral code. It is no wonder that events of this nature are occurring.

How many major crime bosses were imprisoned in the past five years? The answer is "None". The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who has left the Chamber, had the gall to come before the House and dismiss such individuals as the last sting of a dying wasp. Some sting, some wasp. On the Tánaiste's watch and during the Government's time in office, Ireland has, in the context of violence, gone to the dogs.

It is not just organised crime. Rapes, murders, stabbings and beatings are an everyday part of life in urban and rural areas. In the year to September, there were 64 violent deaths. This is the position on the watch of the most vain Minister for Justice ever. In the year to September, there were 304 discharges of firearms, an increase of 40%, and 362 reported rapes. These are not my figures, nor are they the Taoiseach's; they were provided by the CSO. The National Museum might be glad to obtain for exhibition some of the weapons received under the arms amnesty.

The Taoiseach should go again to Moyross and tell Olivia Crawford and her people what this Government is doing to deal with the issue on the streets there every night. The heroin that has decimated parts of this and other cities has had the same effect there. What does the Taoiseach intend to do — let loose the Minister for Defence? I would like to hear the Taoiseach's response.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Kenny asked about Moyross in particular. There is a very good community in Moyross. There is a very committed group of people in Moyross who are, and have been for some time, doing their utmost across a range of services. From youth groups and senior citizens' groups to people working in the home and people looking after children, they are doing their best to deal with the difficulties there. They are asking the State, across a range of areas from gardaí and special detective units to a special task force, to deal with a fairly small, but hardened and dangerous group of criminals who operate in that community — as happens in other communities too.

There is no shortage of resources. The Garda, through its special units, extra gardaí, Garda overtime and the gardaí in the specialist groups, with both dogs and horses, is trying to detect drugs at checkpoints in the community and in the area. The Government has asked the former Dublin city manager, a Limerick man, John Fitzgerald, to co-ordinate the activities across a range of services to try to tackle this.

I agree there is a dangerous group. It is not the only part of the country where there is a dangerous group——

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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That is for sure.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach, without interruption.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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——but there are also excellent people who want to live in peace and harmony. What the State must do is protect them and give them the resources, and give the commitment to do that. We are doing that and we are determined to continue to do that.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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They are failing to do it.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach, without interruption.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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When I met them about four weeks ago they presented me with a report, which they had prepared over the course of the year and in which they asked for a range of activities to address it. It is a difficult area. They pointed out to me the surrounding countryside where there are approximately 100 acres of land on which there is only one industry employing 40 or 50 local people.

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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He has been in Government. What is he doing about it? The Taoiseach ought not lament that.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Allen, it is your leader's question.

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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He is ten years in office.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Allen is not the leader of his party, who is well able to deal with his own question.

Deputies:

The Taoiseach should have done his job.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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A short distance away land costs several million euro an acre. What they have been asking for is a development plan, which would look at issues like access to the estates, zoning of the land for business purposes and high protection, and they have been given that.

There is nowhere else in the country where I have seen, both personally and in records, such a level of gardaí engaged in protecting, looking after and securing an area as in Moyross. It is a pity there is an area which requires that, but that is the reality. The resources have been given to bring back normality and to break and arrest the criminal element.

Deputy Kenny spoke of hardened criminals. In my constituency and elsewhere in Dublin, and in other parts of the country, there have been numerous hardened criminals who received long sentences. Thankfully, long tough sentences have been given out by the courts.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Another dying wasp.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I was speaking about gangland bosses. Information is available as to who these people are.

The first duty of a sovereign government is to protect its citizens and if a government is unable to do that, then it has failed in its duty. I listened this morning to the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea — he may smile or smirk, if he likes.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It is not a joke.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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He stated this morning——

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It is not a joke.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Do something about it.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Kenny, without interruption.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister stated this morning——

(Interruptions).

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Minister, Deputy O'Dea, allow Deputy Kenny.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister is out of order.

Deputies:

Put him out, put him out.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Kenny, without interruption.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ask Deputy Noonan.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Kenny, without interruption.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Mighty Mouse.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy O'Dea stated, coming down off his high, that no democratic government could prevent crime.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, and Fine Gael——

(Interruptions).

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Minister O'Dea——

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is what he stated. The first duty of any government is to protect the citizens of the State.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Minister O'Dea, please. If Deputy Kenny addressed his remarks through the Chair, he might not provoke the Minister.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is an absolute disgrace for a Minister of Defence to stand up and state to the nation at large that a democratic government is unable to prevent crime. What is he doing?

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Does he know how stupid he sounds?

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will have to take action if Minister O'Dea does not desist.

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Can you send him to Duffy's Circus?

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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For the information of the Taoiseach, in 2002 Garda strength in the southern region — Cork, Kerry and Limerick — was 1,837 officers. In 2003 Garda strength in the southern region was 1,842 officers. In 2004 Garda strength in the southern region was 1,867 officers. In 2005 Garda strength in the southern region was 1,868 officers.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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It is up 25% since his party was in office.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Allow Deputy Kenny.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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While the Minister, Deputy O'Dea, may well crow to the nation about some league trophy, Mrs. Crawford was mopping the blood of her five year old son off the kitchen floor. He may smirk at that, if he wishes.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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She does not live in Moyross.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I never mentioned that word.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach spoke of Moyross; I speak of O'Malley Park.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Kenny is a joke.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Minister O'Dea should go down and tell that to Jordan Crawford's mother.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I will tell them——

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Minister O'Dea, I would ask you to allow Deputy Kenny without interruption. Deputy Kenny, your time has concluded.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy O'Dea is the Minister for Defence. He is the person who pleaded on television with gangland leaders to lay down their guns and now he is the Minister for Defence.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I had a job to do it.

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When will the Taoiseach see to it that these gangs in this area and other areas around the country are put out of business? The Minister for Defence can crow all he likes. When this happened after the tragic and unfortunate death of Veronica Guerin, the then Government comprising Fine Gael and Labour took action to put those gangland bosses out of business and behind bars where they belong.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy O'Donoghue drafted legislation.

(Interruptions).

Photo of Johnny BradyJohnny Brady (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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They were kicked out.

Deputies:

They should take control of the area.

Photo of Johnny BradyJohnny Brady (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy cannot take control of his own little village.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Brady, allow the Taoiseach.

Deputies:

Deputy Brady has no village.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach, without interruption please.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It does not really matter where a child or anybody else is injured — we all condemn that kind of action. We have seen a complete disregard for human life by a small minority of people in our cities and we should not try to make anything out of that. I remember well when Veronica Guerin was shot and, thankfully, this party had at that time drafted legislation that was able to be implemented quickly.

We are continually increasing the number of gardaí, with more gardaí and resources for the special units, reducing crime — the figures stand for themselves — and toughening the laws.

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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The figures show increases.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The crime figures of the CSO show that the level of crime is down per 1,000 of population.

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Based on population.

Photo of Rory O'HanlonRory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy O'Keeffe, it is your leader's question.

Photo of Bertie AhernBertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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That does not take away from the problem that we are dealing with, and the gardaí and the special detective unit increasingly are landing large hits against the criminal gangs in terms of detections, arrests and confiscation of drugs and arms. We can see there is a minority of hardened criminals who believe this is a fast way of making themselves rich and who disregard the law and democracy. That is why we are spending such significant resources on a highly sophisticated Garda.

I spoke earlier about Moyross, while the shooting yesterday occurred in Southill. Moyross is a particular area where there is a difficult group who must be dealt with and the gardaí are doing so. On the other side of it, there are decent people who want to make a better community and who are asking for resources for that. They have some excellent, top class facilities in the area. They are asking for further assistance, which they are getting. To co-ordinate that, the Government has put a particular plan in place for that community, as it has done in other areas, and pooled together State resources to do that, which we will continue to do. This area needs attention and we have moved on that. The Minister for Defence, who has first hand knowledge of Moyross, presented to us the issues we need to address to help the area and we have done that.

Photo of Bernard AllenBernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Minister's answer was to march behind a band in Templemore yesterday.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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The Government has not done anything.