Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Due to the fears this caused, the Israeli Government, under Benyamin Netanyahu, released the sheikh and now it has killed him. One has to question where Israeli policy will lead. I am fearful not only for events in the Middle East but for the impact on the towns and cities of Europe, given what happened in Madrid. A heavy burden of responsibility rests on the shoulders of Prime Minister Sharon and his cabinet which, as we all know, is dominated by hard-line, hawkish elements which do not fully represent the views of the vast majority of the Israeli people — it is the government they are stuck with.

All sides of the House will agree that the furore which surrounded the anti-social behaviour on St. Patrick's Day is a timely reminder of what is happening to our society. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform attended the House throughout the debate on the Garda Bill, for which we all applaud him. I think I speak for all sides when I ask the Leader to ask him to return to the House to outline the initiation of some radical policies, similar to the initiative outlined recently in the United Kingdom. We must deal not only with what is happening in Dublin but in every town and village, including my own small town of Drumshanbo, which suffers anti-social behaviour also.