Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes raised the issue of our disgraceful gun culture and, in particular, the sad murder of Donna Cleary. He asked where is the Criminal Justice Bill, which, as far as I can ascertain, is on Committee Stage in the Lower House. He also referred to the increase in cocaine use and stated everyone in authority should stop lecturing people and do something about it.

Senator O'Toole referred to the explosion in the use of cocaine and the so-called smart people who smoke it at weekends. The Senators seem to know quite a bit about that but I am not aware of it, although I read about these matters. Senator O'Toole also raised the Marino College of Education issue. It is like a comic opera and I cannot understand it. This is a teacher training college in receipt of significant funding from the State to train teachers but we have heard different versions of stories about it. A debate on the matter would be very useful.

Senator Tuffy also called for a debate on gun culture. She referred to the huge upward trend in the number of murders and she cited statistics regarding the murder rate in different areas and sentencing. She also stated an investigation should be conducted into the outcome of the activities of the Criminal Assets Bureau, which she praised. I do not talk about judges and what they do because that is their job whereas ours is to enact legislation. It is unhelpful to debate sentencing matters.

I agree with Senator Ormonde that we should have an urgent rounded debate on gun culture and murder. We have become almost numbed to the increase in the number of murders. When they occur, one says it is part and parcel of something and one does not become alarmed or shocked. When we lose the ability to be shocked about something, it is getting bad.

Senator Finucane referred to criminal activity, judges, law and order and the politics of the last soundbite. He commended the Garda on its mammoth work in dealing with drugs offences. I agree with the Senator's comments on the inaccuracies in the register of electors. Anybody going forward for election will be alarmed because the votes one cannot get are always those one would have got if the people were on the register. Senator Dardis is correct that a national body should take command of the registers of electors and put a shape on them, as they are completely out of kilter.