Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I join my colleagues who condemned the appalling cold-blooded murder of Mr. Shane Geoghegan in Limerick. I know other Senators have spoken passionately, but as regards gangland crime I have no problem with the reintroduction of the Special Criminal Court. I know it is a serious step but it appears that a certain element involved in the drugs trade has no respect for jurors. Most people who serve on juries are afraid of their lives in carrying out their functions as jurors, which is a civic duty. Witnesses are being intimidated and this is an ongoing situation that requires desperate measures to be taken. We need a debate on this, but we should look seriously at the reintroduction of the Special Criminal Court in this regard on a two-year or three-year trial basis, however drastic it may be. I remind the House that when the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Michael McDowell introduced strong legislation in this regard in the previous Dáil, the Official Report shows that some Deputies had serious reservations. I am concerned that people start crying out when these things happen.

I pay tribute to those involved in the significant drugs haul that occurred last week in my neck of the woods, Castletownbere. This is the second huge haul within 18 months. I accept that in the first case in Dunlough Bay, it was probably more through accident than design that the haul of drugs was intercepted. I have said repeatedly during my time in the Oireachtas and before that as a councillor that drug importation using coastlines such as west Cork is an ongoing scenario. These drug barons are so daring that they are prepared to bring tonnes of cocaine 3,000 or 4,000 miles across the Atlantic to land on our coastline because up to now we did not have the resources to deal with the problem.

I must compliment the people involved in this instance, where lives were put at risk. The Garda, the Naval Service and Customs and Excise were working with this new group in Lisbon in an effort to stymie the importation of drugs, which were most likely destined for the British and European markets. Fair play to all concerned. It was a major initiative and by now the message may have gone out internationally to the effect that the people in Ireland along the coastline are no longer asleep. Congratulations to all concerned. I have often criticised the Naval Service and the Garda but in this instance a superb job has been done. I hope it sends a message to the international drug lords in South America and elsewhere that we are not putting up with this situation any longer.

This could be the beginning because the situation in Limerick, with due respect to the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Fitzgerald, is related to drugs. We must acknowledge the success of the Garda and all those concerned in the magnificent haul at Castletownbere, which occurred in most difficult sea conditions where the swell was as high as the roof of this Chamber, to give the House some idea what the Naval Service and those who went out on ribs to board the drug-laden yacht had to contend with. One of the ribs was severely damaged. They risked their lives to stop the importation of drugs and this House must respect and acknowledge that.