Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address this matter. I would like to start by quoting a letter I sent to the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, on 29 August 2013.

Dear Minister

I wish to refer to gang slayings in the city. These are occurring with a regularity that now breeds acceptance. This is proof to the criminals who profit from these barbarous acts that it is their will alone that determines the limits to this behaviour.

Paralleling the criminals' acceptance at these new norms that they have established to serve their own ends is an acceptance by civil society that a frightening new layer of brutality has become an integral part of contemporary urban life.

Decent people are silently seething that their communities, which act as a backdrop to these shootings, are being redefined by criminal behaviour to an extent that civic pride and community wellbeing is being undermined.

The government now must demonstrate that the will of the 99 per cent can prevail. Slaying at the whim of these criminals must be stopped. Limerick offers a glowing example of how the tide can be successfully turned.

The subject matter of this letter - gun crime - was brutally illustrated last Friday evening when a young child in Cherry Orchard was hit by gun fire. How ironic that any child should be in danger on his own doorstep. The very place where he should feel safest was attacked. A sanctuary was breached. Little Sean is still in hospital and, hopefully, he will soon be back home safe and well. Of course, we wish to send him our best wishes. Gun fire in the proximity of children is quite a frequent occurrence in the city. Recently when children were being dropped off at a crèche in Donaghmede gun fire erupted. This is a reckless practice which must be halted.

I wish to refer to a linked matter, namely, to a fear people have that their area can be somehow defined by the occurrence of brutalising incidents such as that which happened in Cherry Orchard last Friday evening. In that regard, I would like to say a few words about Cherry Orchard. Some 30 years ago, when people first moved into this new estate, there were only houses. The streets, footpaths and street lighting were unfinished. It did not have shops, a school, a church, facilities, a bus service and playgrounds. Some 30 years later, through the efforts of residents, the area has been transformed and, with the assistance of Dublin City Council, there are splendid parks and very good playgrounds. It has one of the most pioneering schools in the country, St. Ultan's, a youth orchestra which regularly performs at the National Concert Hall and one of the country's leading amateur soccer clubs, which is regularly visited by scouts from English league clubs, is based there.

All of this is the outcome of dedication, commitment and hard work by the people engaged in community building, the people of Cherry Orchard and the parish priest, Father O'Connor, over a 30 year period. Cherry Orchard needs the Minister's help. It needs more gardaí and more resources to counter some of the activities which have been referred to.

I would like the Minister to consider visiting Cherry Orchard to meet the people, which they would like, and to talk directly to them and discuss how serious outstanding issues can be tackled by them with her support.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputies Conaghan and Ó Snodaigh for raising this important matter. I would like to record my outrage at the appalling incident last Friday where a young child was shot at Croftwood Gardens, Ballyfermot. As the Deputies know, a major Garda investigation is under way. I spoke to the acting Garda Commissioner about this incident when I met her yesterday and she assured me progress is being made with all necessary resources deployed. An Garda Síochána is determined to bring to justice those involved and I know it has the full support of the local community in identifying the perpetrators. Clearly, anyone who has information which could be helpful to the Garda should pass this on immediately.

I am further advised that a Garda liaison officer has been appointed to assist the family and that an incident room has been established in Ballyfermot Garda station to investigate this incident which is being overseen by a senior investigating officer.

As the Deputy rightly said, gun crime represents a real challenge for policing and poses significant potential for harm in the community, in this case, unfortunately, in the form of very serious injuries to a young child.

Garda strategy for tackling gun crime involves targeted and intelligence-based operations, often disrupting and preventing incidents before harm is caused, as well as detecting and prosecuting those involved. Much of this work goes unheralded but it is carried out with great determination by the men and women of An Garda Síochána, who can themselves face great risk in taking on armed criminals.

The robust Garda response to violent crime has led to firearms offences decreasing last year by 7%, and the number of crime incidents in which a firearm was involved was also down, by more than 7%. However, I accept all the points made by Deputy Conaghan on the horrific nature of the incident. The precise deployment of resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I have discussed the policing situation in Ballyfermot in general terms with her and been assured that the Garda is working with the community and providing the best possible support on the ground. I am informed that at present there are 198 gardaí in the Clondalkin-Ballyfermot district.

The sale and possession of legally held firearms in this jurisdiction is highly regulated. However, my Department is currently conducting a review of firearms legislation after which I will engage in broader consultations ahead of preparing any legislative changes arising from the review. Ahead of completion of the review, I would point out that our criminal law already rightly provides heavy penalties for weapons offences and mandatory minimum penalties are in place for certain firearms offences. The Garda also has considerable powers available to it in tackling serious and armed crime, and they have been supplemented further by the recent DNA database legislation which has just been passed in both Houses. The Bill was completed last week in the Seanad. When established, the DNA database will have the capacity to link suspects to unsolved crimes using forensic evidence, and will greatly assist the Garda in investigating crime.

The acting Garda Commissioner is aware that if she believes other legislative measures or steps would assist in tackling armed and serious crime they will be given the most serious consideration by me. I take serious note of the views expressed by the Deputy during the debate. Our thoughts are with the family of the young victim of this shooting. We are concerned with the well-being of the family during this very difficult period and look forward to the recovery of the victim. I visited St. Ultan's in the past. I am very struck by the range of initiatives and work that, as Deputy Conaghan, rightly pointed out, has been done by the community of Cherry Orchard in the past 30 years and the significant community work in which everyone engages. Deputy Conaghan is familiar with the work the Garda is doing with local youth groups. The local youth diversion programme has proved very successful. There are also two major Garda operations in the area: Operation Hybrid and Operation Domino, which are both designed to provide a proactive response to organised crime in the Dublin metropolitan region.

Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for her response which was very knowledgeable and informed. I am aware she has direct experience of visiting the area and has visited the school. People come from all over the country because of the innovations in the school and its comprehensive curriculum and orchestra. It is the one place in the city where children go to school with a schoolbag in one hand and a violin case in the other. Would the Minister consider meeting a small group of residents for an exchange of views? It would give her an insight into how strong the feeling is about the dreadful matter that took place. I accept the Minister has a very busy schedule but perhaps she would consider it.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I would be happy to do that. It would be important to meet with the community. I understand that for a community which has taken such proactive steps itself to build itself up how very disturbing what happened on Friday night is and how concerned people are about what took place. I spoke to Fr. Gerry today and I know the community is rallying around. I am satisfied from my discussion with the acting Garda Commissioner that everything possible will be done by the Garda to support the community and to follow up and make sure that justice is seen to be done in response to the crime.