Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

"—welcomes the initiative of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in proposing a system of anti-social behaviour orders in December 2004 for inclusion in the Criminal Justice Bill;

—notes the subsequent expression of support in April 2005 for these measures by the larger parties in Opposition;

—commends the Minister for his proposals in the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 to enhance the powers of the Garda Síochána in the investigation and prosecution of offences, in particular his proposal to provide for a fixed charge procedure in relation to lesser public order offences;

—congratulates the Government on the range of measures it has already introduced to deal with public order offences and public disorder;

—welcomes the fact that, despite more precise and accurate recording of headline crime figures by the Garda Síochána, the crime rate in Ireland has fallen from 28.4 crimes per 1,000 in 1995 to 24.4 crimes per 1,000 in 2004;

—welcomes the improving public order situation reflected in the downward trend of assaults causing harm and public order offences since the beginning of 2003;

—welcomes the Government's decision to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members and the progress which is being made in bringing this increase about;

—notes that the number of gardaí actually fell between 1994 and 1996;

—welcomes the increase by over 90%, from €599 million in 1997 to €1.1 billion in 2005, in the financial resources made available by the Government to the Garda Síochána;

—welcomes the Government's commitment to continued implementation of the measures and interventions provided for in the Children Act 2001 aimed at young offenders and those most at risk of offending;

—welcomes the increase in Garda youth diversion projects from 12 in 1997 to 64 in 2005;

—supports the Minister's proposals in the Garda Síochána Bill to provide for the establishment of joint policing committees and local policing fora as a means whereby local authorities and the Garda Síochána can work in partnership to combat such behaviour;

—welcomes the recent report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on community policing;

—welcomes legislation already sponsored by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to combat such behaviour, including legislative provisions to combat abuse of intoxicating liquor;

—welcomes the proposals of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to update and modernise the licensing laws with a view to improving compliance and enforcement and combating drunkenness and disorderly conduct, as well as under age and binge drinking; and

—welcomes the further increase in judicial resources provided by the Minister in the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004."

I will speak later on the amendment.