Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for coming to the House at such short notice to allow Members to voice our concerns about what took place on Saturday and pay our compliments to the gardaí on the way in which they managed last weekend's riots. The riots brought shame on us all. The people who caused such mayhem represented our country. The trouble was seen by visitors to Dublin and people across the world on television. The trouble brought shame on all of us at a time when we thought bridges had been built and progress had been made with regard to our friends in the North.

I give my full support to the Minister and the Garda in their efforts to ensure gardaí are given the resources to tackle this type of violence so it does not recur. Despite their preparations, gardaí could not anticipate that such an event would take place. We must wipe out the element in Irish society which seizes any opportunity to create trouble. We must eliminate this element in every town and village in the country and make it clear that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

This violent behaviour begins with anti-social behaviour. We witnessed something on our streets which we never want to see repeated. We support the Minister and gardaí in their efforts to do whatever is necessary to combat this type of behaviour so we never again see petrol bombs and other missiles being thrown at gardaí and witness the force being treated with such contempt.

I share my colleagues' concerns about the St. Patrick's Day parade or any other parade which could be held in the future. Once violence on the scale of that which occurred on Saturday occurs, it is likely to recur. The young people involved in the violence appear to get a buzz out of it. The people behind the violence or those who know people involved in orchestrating the violence, should come forward. We have heard certain people on the radio claiming they know who was involved in the violence. These people should have the courage to name those involved but they obviously do not have the courage of their convictions even though they claim to be in positions of authority in certain organisations. We can see that they will hide behind their organisations, which should not be tolerated. Therefore, the Minister, and particularly gardaí, have our full support.