Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I join with Senators Brian Hayes and Ó Murchú in seeking a debate on Northern Ireland. Apart from the local government issue, other aspects can usefully be discussed at this stage. Advances have been made in recent months but the interplay between North and South, North-South bodies and interparliamentary co-operation are fundamental areas for discussion.

The proposed changes to local government should be discussed in that debate. Consultation has been going on for at least the past two years with local government bodies in Northern Ireland with regard to changes. Those bodies are particularly disappointed that the outcome is more or less in line with the original suggestion by a previous Secretary of State with regard to the number of councils that would be established, namely, there is to be a reduction from 26 to seven councils, which is at the lower end of what was expected. Most of those involved in local government were hoping that there would be at least ten to 12 councils, a number to which I would subscribe. There is need for a greater number of councils to ensure full participation.

I support the call by Senator O'Toole on Garda involvement in tackling crime. What he said in regard to Limerick was absolutely correct in that tremendous progress has been made recently. I would like the House to discuss change, particularly with regard to the offence of being a member of a criminal gang, which has proved difficult to define precisely. We recently saw serious Irish criminals brought to heel in Belgium, where that offence was one of the charges levied at them. As legislators, we need to consider this area in order to assist gardaí in tackling serious crime.