Cyprian Brady (Fianna Fail)

Instead of shouting at one another, it would be more beneficial if we put forward constructive views. It is our job to put our shoulders to the wheel in order to introduce legislative programmes that benefit the public we are here to serve. It is unfair to suggest, as the motion does, that the Minister has been sitting on his hands during his period in office.

This month alone, the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights — of which both Senator Jim Walsh and Senator Brian Hayes are members — sat through one of the finest processes I have been involved with, coming up with a concept for the introduction of community policing. Some 60 submissions were made to that committee which involved five days of hearings. Members of the joint committee also made a worthwhile trip to London where they met a police inspector at Scotland Yard who was most informative and enthusiastic about the concept of community policing.

In addition to meeting local community activists, we also met the Garda Commissioner, the Dublin city manager, Mr. Denis Bradley of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and many others. The beneficial outcome was the report we all received last week, which showed that conventional policing has failed in its efforts to deal with anti-social behaviour in the community. The report also found that the Garda Síochána was reactive rather than proactive. All of us who have served as councillors would agree with that.

The Minister has provided positive legislation that will help society to develop socially and recreationally. That corpus of legislation includes the Garda Síochána Bill, to which several Senators have referred, as well as the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill, which strengthened the role of the Garda Síochána.

A recent survey in the north inner city, which Senator Brady and myself represent, suggested that persistent anti-social behaviour — much of which is, unfortunately, drug-related — was committed by a small number of people. The survey revealed there was a major disincentive for local people to involve themselves in their community, either through voluntary organisations or otherwise. Public disorder, including street violence — particularly among young males — is one of the major threats to society.

The experience of anti-social behaviour is not unique to Dublin, as other cities have the same problem. A multi-agency response is required to tackle it, involving education, health and housing. Over the years, the design of housing estates has contributed to some of the current social disorder. Parental control is vital because the role of parents in the lives of the younger generation is central to any solutions we may come up with here.

Effective community policing is the way forward but in establishing a community policing organisation we must ensure it will not be the poor relation of the Garda Síochána. Such a structure for community policing must include gardaí of senior rank. In addition, gardaí must be willing to work in community policing and have the potential to benefit from promotion if they do so. When it comes to enforcing anti-social behaviour orders, community policing is the way forward.