John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I join with colleagues in expressing disgust at the murder of Mr. Donaldson in County Donegal. Senator Ó Murchú said that republicans had fully decommissioned but I do not see how this is so, in light of yesterday's shooting. Clearly, the guns used in that incident have not been decommissioned and nobody would doubt the involvement of people calling themselves, however loosely, "republicans".

Other Senators referred to the tragic accident yesterday in County Offaly. It is now time for action and for the installation, without further delay, of seatbelts on every schoolbus in the country, whether privately operated or publicly owned. I extend my sympathy to the family of the young man killed in the accident.

I agree with the points made by my colleague, Senator Cummins, on the subjects of crime and justice, with particular reference to the murder over the weekend in Clonmel, which was a disturbing development. Attacks on vehicles transporting cash have grown into a serious problem. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform commented flippantly last year on a particular attack in Dublin. The drivers of the van in question were subjected to a harrowing ordeal as the van was robbed. The Minister would be better employed ensuring the safety of people going about their work than engaging in his usual megaphone politics on such issues.