Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Will the Leader draw the attention of the Government to the decision yesterday of the Conservative Party in Britain to back the British Government on the introduction of identity cards? We are fighting crime here with one hand tied behind our backs. We are one of the few countries that does not have some form of compulsory identity card. With the support of the Conservatives, the introduction of this proposed measure is likely to become law, although it will take some years to come into being. If we do not take the first steps in this direction, we may well be outflanked, as we were to a certain extent by the Schengen Agreement. Britain refused to sign up to that agreement and, therefore, we were not able to sign up to it. As a consequence we have had to use passports to travel, even to the Continent. I raise this matter because if we delay too long in moving in this direction, we will miss the opportunity and be left out.

In regard to the fight against crime, legislation restricting the use of knives has been introduced in Britain. From memory I recall Senator Ó Murchú spoke about the introduction of legislation on knives. We passed such legislation some years ago but perhaps it is not being enforced. I remember at that time meeting a person who planned to go camping and needed to take a knife on the trip but was uncomfortable because he had identified this legislation which restricted the use of knives. I am sure we took people planning such trips into account when the legislation was introduced.