Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

On Tuesday there were three shootings on the streets of Dublin. Statistics show that many such crimes are carried out by people on bail. We had a referendum on bail laws. I wonder if that achieved what was intended. If not, why not? What action are we to take as legislators to ensure we get what that referendum was intended to produce?

Gangland figures in prison are orchestrating crime. A large number of mobile phones have been found in our prisons. This should be monitored regularly because we cannot have such ganglords managing crime from prison. That is the last thing this country needs now. One would think that when such criminals are in prison, that should be the end of it during their period of detention. That does not seem to be the case, however, because they are still operating.

I did not contribute to the debate yesterday although I wished to speak on the Bank of Ireland situation. For that bank to reduce staff stock issue from 6% to 3% is a most provocative and unacceptable act. It does not surprise me that staff are considering strike action as a result of that move by the bank. We should condemn the Bank of Ireland for this act and ask it to reverse its decision as a matter of urgency. It is not in the interest of its staff, of good industrial relations or of the community as a whole.