Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

I support the amendments, particularly amendment No. 43 in the names of Senators Quinn and Henry. I am concerned about what is contained in the legislation. This matter was argued at great length on Committee Stage when the Minister gave an undertaking that she would look at it again and, perhaps, come back with amendments. I am disappointed she has not done so because I thought she was getting the core of our amendment. Will the Minister define what she and her Department would define as "reasonable force"? Is she proposing to set up a hit squad or a crack squad within the Department that would go around breaking down doors?

There is one organisation charged with administering law and order and that is the Garda Síochána. I support Senator Quinn on going down the District Court route or at a minimum getting a search warrant from a chief superintendent in the area. Reasonable force should be used or exercised only by members of the Garda Síochána. It is deplorable that the Bill provides for the use of "reasonable force" by a Department. Will the Minister clarify what is meant by "reasonable force"? Is she in favour of a hit squad or hit men going around the country breaking down doors or will she employ lads of 20 stone like me to break down a door to get into a premises? This is a worrying issue and it cannot be allowed to happen.