Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I too support the amendment. I have been speaking about this matter for quite some time. I think the first legislation in this area — the Proceeds of Crime Act — was introduced by the former Minister and Deputy, Nora Owen. Many of us on both sides of the House argued that the moneys gained from certain criminal activities should be ring-fenced for the communities most affected by disadvantage. Since then there has been significant progress in this area. The Government has outlined, in a kind of statistical manner, the situation in the RAPID areas. We know exactly from the district electoral divisions where areas of disadvantage are greatest.

There is a need to ring-fence moneys from this procedure so that those communities, which have been ravaged and worst affected by drugs and whose fabric has been virtually destroyed as a result of the drugs trade over the past 20 years, can see tangible proof in this legislation that they will receive money.

Psychologically, it is important for a community to see that half, one third or one quarter of the money going towards building a swimming pool, for example, has come from some of these gangsters who have murdered people in the community for many years as a consequence of the drugs trade. Not only is it financially important the money is kept for these communities but it is psychologically important because people will be able to point to a new scheme which has been provided as a result of money which has come back to the communities via these people who attempted to kill their children as a result of the drugs trade. It is important we ring-fence this money. I support amendment No. 1 and ask the Minister of State to consider it.