Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I support the calls that have been made by Senators Brian Hayes and O'Toole for a debate on gun culture, in light of the murder of a young mother on Saturday night. It is obvious that we need to consider, as part of that debate, the introduction of an amnesty for illegally held weapons which have not been used to commit crimes. We should then discuss the introduction of harsh penalties for people who are illegally in possession of guns. We also need to reflect on the question of legally held guns. Are the systems which are in place in that regard being monitored properly, etc.?

I would like a related issue to be debated in that context. I have examined the statistics for headline offences in recent years. I noted that in 2005, there was a significant increase in the number of murders in my local area. While there were just one or two murders in previous years, the number of murders in my local area increased to five in 2005. I have also examined the national figures, which indicate that the number of murders in the country as a whole increased by approximately 50% last year, from 37 in 2004 to 54 in 2005. It is too early to tell whether last year's increase constitutes a trend, but it is obvious that there was a substantial increase in the number of murders in 2005. If things continue as they are at present, there may well be similar figures for 2006.

When the House debates this issue, it should consider the measures which are in place. We need to examine the issue of sentencing, which has been raised by the Taoiseach. We need an audit of the sentences which are being given, the proportion of those sentences which are being served and the extent to which the people in question get involved in repeat offences. The worrying thing about crime statistics is that just one third of the crimes which are committed are detected. The rate of detection of crimes, including murders, is approximately 30%. Perhaps I am being controversial when I suggest that we should undertake an analysis of the Criminal Assets Bureau legislation, which has been quite successful. It is obvious that it is right that ill-gotten gains should be seized by the State. However, many of the criminals from whom we are seizing assets are still on the streets, controlling their drug empires in local communities. We need to consider whether the Criminal Assets Bureau legislation is working. Do gaps need to be filled in that regard? Do we need to introduce further legislation to ensure that we are detecting crimes, convicting offenders and punishing them appropriately?