Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Last November, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated boldly that actions taken by him in giving additional support to the Garda in Dublin had resulted in the breaking up of major criminal gangs in the city. He also claimed that he was confident that IRA criminality was a thing of the past. On both of those counts, the statements now ring hollow given his announcement yesterday that welcome additional resources are to be given to the Garda in Dublin.

This is a bigger problem than just Dublin city and county. There have been ten murders in as many weeks throughout the country, as well as a proliferation of the gun culture within the criminal world. This must be tackled head on by the Government and the Garda. Fine Gael will allow a new Bill to pass swiftly through this House that criminalises gang membership and hostage taking. Will the Leader consider putting such a suggestion to the Minister? This is a Fine Gael initiative that we put to the Government yesterday and I ask her to put it to the Minister today.

Senators Ross and Quinn have raised the issue of Sellafield this week. A suggestion was made in this House more than 12 months ago that the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, should have automatic status at the Sellafield plant in order to ensure independence in terms of monitoring and reporting to the Irish public. Will the Government put this suggestion again to the British Government? It is wrong that incidents and accidents at Sellafield should be reported by the management of the plant and the British nuclear industry to the Irish people. In all such cases, we should have an independent assessment by our own State body, the RPII. That body should be represented at Sellafield on a permanent 24-hour basis to report to the Irish people in the same way that the International Atomic Energy Agency is based constantly at Sellafield. The British Government must move swiftly to allay Irish concerns on Sellafield.