Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Local authorities are frequently among the first bodies to be attacked when something goes wrong. However, yesterday we witnessed a very good example of how a local authority can work with central government to produce good ideas for tackling crime. In particular, I congratulate the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Dublin City Council on the proposals of the Lord Mayor's Commission on Crime and Policing, which were published yesterday and include a number of innovative ideas for tackling anti-social activity in urban Dublin. I suspect the recommendations would be the same in any large town.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has welcomed the report's recommendations but I ask the Government to provide time to examine these proposals in greater detail. While we all accept there is a need for more gardaí on the beat, more judges and more resources for community policing, there is a particular problem with anti-social activity in urban Ireland which must be addressed.

The radical idea proposed by the Lord Mayor's commission yesterday is a "problem-solving court", which would bring young offenders and their parents before it in order to deal with the issues. This type of community-based solution is the kind of thinking we must address if we are to nip this problem in the bud. I urge the Government to provide time for the House to examine the proposals.

This House has a long, distinguished and proud history of debating the problems of the Middle East and Members must be happy with the announcement today of a ceasefire between the Palestinians and the Israelis. All of us who want a solution to that historic problem must call on EU governments to fully fund the huge job of work which is at hand, particularly in respect of the Palestinian Authority. President Bush's Administration has promised US$40 million as an initial injection and the EU should match this quickly as a means of bedding down the peace in that war-torn part of the world.