David Norris (Independent)

I thank my colleagues for allowing me the opportunity to contribute. I welcome the Minister. I refer to Senator Quinn's comment on the question of arming the Garda. The Minister referred to Katherine O'Toole, a most distinguished woman. I listened to her on radio the other day and she came across as extremely clear and cool and as a very practical woman. She did not want the Garda to be armed in the way that was called for in the House last week and neither do I, as I agree with Senator Quinn. Almost since the foundation of the State, we have had an unarmed Garda force, which is admired all over the world.

However, the ongoing gangland battles are a problem and the people wish to be protected. It is appropriate that we have, and strengthen, a rapid response unit comprising marksmen who are professionally trained. I spoke to senior members of the Garda earlier — I, unfortunately, do not confer with prime ministers as regularly as my colleague — and they also indicated that they do not want guns but they would like the response force. This is the usual ding dong debate where we are presented with a Fine Gael motion and a Government amendment is attached to it, welcoming and commending such and such. However, the Fine Gael motion contains a specific concentration on the gun issue, which is lacking in the Government's amendment, which praises all kinds of things. It is important to focus on the gun issue. I would be happy with increases in penalties to the most severe level for crimes such as the possession of firearms because we must get to them before they are used.

This relates to the drugs issue. Guns are brought into the State with large-scale drug imports. I do not want to rehash my contribution to the earlier debate but if the Minister is interested, it is on the record. It is time to debate the legalisation of drugs at national level. The Minister will not agree with this and this cannot be done by Ireland alone. Such legalisation would have to be introduced on a Europe-wide basis at least. That would remove the financial incentive, which is necessary. The then Government took up an idea a number of years ago that had been promoted by Deputy Gregory, which was the formation of a Criminal Assets Bureau. It strikes at the financial base of criminals. They have demonstrated they are not sensitive to human feeling and they must be hit in their wallets.

The criminalisation of drugs must be examined. In the short term, I would support the Government parties in whatever they can do to assist, at a critical juncture, people who are addicted to heroin and who have been placed at a considerable disadvantage by the withdrawal of methadone services by pharmacists. This is dangerous and irresponsible. These people are among the most vulnerable in our community and their addiction may be triggered again by this withdrawal of service. If that happens, that may lead to circumstances in which they commit further crime.

The motion targets gun crime, about which people are worried. Gun crime has increased considerably and that is the primary issue that needs to be examined while the drugs problem lies beneath it. They both must be examined together in a radical manner.