Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, Ormonde, Norris and Buttimer all expressed their shock and horror at the violence taking place on our streets. We fully support the sentiments that have been expressed here this morning, particularly as regards how crime must be tackled. As Senator Ó Murchú and others have said, we want to commend members of the Garda Síochána who are putting their lives at risk every day on the streets in the various areas they work in. I have no difficulty in inviting the Minister to the House for a debate on this issue.

Senators noted the Government Chief Whip's call this morning on young people in particular, but on everyone who uses the roads, to take particular care on bank holiday weekends. The Garda Síochána will be very vigilant over the Easter holiday period, especially its dedicated traffic corps which this year will reach its full complement of 1,200 personnel. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the former Minister, Michael McDowell, in the previous Government certainly can claim much credit for increasing the complement of the corps from 575 four years ago to 1,200 today.

I join the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Tom Kitt, in calling for everyone to take good care on the roads over the two upcoming bank holiday weekends. We are told best practice regarding road safety is evident in New South Wales. If there is a good idea being implemented in that part of Australia, why not try it here on a pilot basis?