Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I refer to the comments made by a number of Senators on the Equality Authority and the Human Right's Commission, and I agree with Senator Norris that we could have a useful debate on this matter. I hold a contrary view to his but, nonetheless, it would be equally valid. We have built up and industry, not just in Ireland but internationally, around the question of human rights and equality. Unfortunately, many of those organisations have been taken over by sectional interests to pursue their own agenda. I was alarmed to learn of some of the salaries paid to people involved in these organisations in this country, and it was definitely time to cry halt in that regard. It is those in these Houses who should articulate and be the champions of human rights and equality. This is where it should be done. We should not pay significant amounts of taxpayers' money to bodies that are not accountable to the State.

I join those Senators who sympathised with the family of Shane Geoghegan. His murder was an appalling and horrific crime but, unfortunately, it is only another in a catalogue of such crimes, going back many decades. I spoke about this issue in the House previously, when I spoke after the murder of Brian Fitzgerald in Limerick, who put his personal safety at risk to protect a premises where he was employed from being invaded by drug pushers. He paid with his life as a consequence, a young man with a family. Similarly, the late Shane Geoghegan had his whole life to look forward to, but that life has been snubbed out while he was still in the prime of life. This is unacceptable.

I recall debates we had in this House following previous murders, when many people were more concerned about the human rights of the perpetrators of the crime and of similar type crimes than of the victims and their families. The time has come for a clear review of where we stand on these issues. The time has come too, as Senator O'Donovan proposed, for us to consider having non-jury courts, like the Special Criminal Court used in the past to deal with situations felt to be a threat to the State. It is time to take the issue in hand and pursue such measures for a period of two or three years, as suggested by Senator O'Donovan. We should monitor closely how such courts work to ensure the innocent do not suffer. We need to take strong action on these horrific crimes, particularly those against innocent people. Human life is inviolate. I would like a debate in the House along those lines.