Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I join Senators Fitzgerald, Harris and others in condemning the killing of Mr. Shane Geoghegan in Limerick, who was an innocent man. There is an attitude of "Good riddance" when people are killed who are involved in inter-gang warfare, and it has not been taken as seriously by the police, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform or successive Ministers. Deputy Willie O'Dea referred to a need for new legislation on the right to silence; this matter has nothing to do with such an issue. Deputy Michael Noonan, as Senator Harris stated, put his finger on it when he said, "It is an issue of detection and prosecution", and that is where the Government has failed in tackling gangland crime.

One problem in prosecution and conviction is intimidation, and that is where the question of non-jury trials must be considered. We should have a debate on this specific issue. There was a debate and a resolution from this side of the House last year on the matter of tackling gangland crime, and we were told by the then Minister that everything was in place and action was being taken. In the light of this killing, the Minister should come into the House and outline the strategy he is purportedly following to tackle this scourge. Regarding the visit of President Václav Klaus of the Czech Republic — which is welcomed by everyone in Ireland — there is an article in The Irish Times today about whether he breached protocol in meeting Mr. Declan Ganley, but we are not raising any issues in that regard. Open and transparent discussion is necessary on these issues. When he says the Taoiseach is in no hurry to find a solution on the Lisbon treaty, I am not sure he is correct or that I would formulate it in that way. On the issue of the Lisbon treaty, there is no doubt the Taoiseach and Government are playing for time, as they are with the economy, the public finances, reform of the public sector and the recapitalisation of Irish banks. The reality is that time is running out on all of these issues, and there is a time for decisions and a time for leadership.

Senator Ross mentioned a survey of multinationals in this country. Whatever decisions they took in the past, what is really important is the decisions they take today, and unless there is clear leadership from the Government on the fundamental economic issues and on the Lisbon treaty, I would be fearful of the type of decision the multinationals based in Ireland might make in the future.