Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I too wish to contribute to the debate on crime and the breakdown of law and order which has reached frightening proportions. Already this week there have been two gangland atrocities. One must feel for the family of the young plumber who went out, got a trade, made a living, and was trying to earn a few extra euro for Christmas but unfortunately lost his life in this spate of gangland killings.

As Senator Cummins rightly points out one must recall 1996 when the Opposition spokesperson constantly castigated the then Minister for Justice, Nora Owen. He served for five years in that capacity and if he does the same for tourism figures as he has done for crime figures we will have a bumper season next year. It is disgraceful that the Government lectures us on the manner in which the debate should be conducted. It is critical that the Minister come in to the House and be held to account because he has not acted on this issue. In the past nine years crime and law and order have gone out of control, and that is not an understatement.