Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

There was another murder in west Dublin this morning. A man was gunned down in cold blood. The incidence of murder in west Dublin is a cause of great concern for people living in the area and should be a matter of concern for everybody. Will the Leader invite the Minister to the House for a debate on this type of crime? We do not know if it was a gangland shooting. The reasons for such murders, whether they relate to drugs, gangs or the number of illegally held weapons in the country, must be addressed. This issue should be dealt with urgently. We must also examine the resources available to the Garda to tackle this type of crime.

The Ongar area where the shooting occurred is not covered by the local Garda station in Blanchardstown but by Lucan gardaí, which is ludicrous. The Minister and the Garda Commissioner must reconsider where Garda stations are operating and the areas they cover. This must be addressed urgently so the gardaí are equipped to tackle this type of heinous crime.