Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, Ross, Alex White, Coghlan, Harris, Norris, O'Donovan, Regan, Walsh, Hannigan, Buttimer, Glynn, Bacik, O'Reilly and Boyle expressed their deepest sympathy to the family of Shane Geoghegan who was so tragically murdered in Limerick at the weekend. I express our strong condemnation of that murder on behalf of all Members of Seanad Éireann and particularly on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, of which I am Leader in this House.

This morning the Taoiseach met the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner to discuss criminal justice issues generally and the ongoing investigation into the brutal killing of Shane Geoghegan. This tragic death of a well respected young man going about his business is a despicable crime. An intensive Garda investigation is now under way in Limerick. I understand the Garda Commissioner is travelling to Limerick this afternoon to meet the investigation team on the ground. The Commissioner has stated that the full resources of the Garda Síochána are available to the investigation team and that no effort will be spared in bringing those responsible to justice.

In the past year alone there has been a 12% increase in the Garda numbers in Limerick city and a 40% increase since 2003. Divisional 24-hour armed patrols supported by emergency response units and a regional support unit supplementing the regular patrols by plain-clothes armed gardaí are in place. To date in 2008 there have been five murders in the Limerick area, including that of Mr. Shane Geoghegan. Persons have been charged in respect of two of these. Two of the murders have been with firearms and a person has been charged in respect of one of these. There were 18 murders involving firearms in 2007 compared with 27 in 2002, a reduction of 33%. There have been 19 deaths by shooting so far this year. This year homicide offences have dropped by more than 56% in the third quarter and by almost half, 44.9%, year on year.

These statistics were supplied to me by the Department of the Taoiseach prior to the Order of Business. I knew Senators would make their strong views known to the House on the Order of Business. I want to assure the House that the Taoiseach, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Commissioner are giving this matter top priority. The challenge has been laid down to the State and it must face it head on. Of course I will arrange a debate in which colleagues can make statements to the House with a Minister present as a matter of urgency after the Order of Business today.

Comments were made about the amount of legislation coming through the House. The Harbours (Amendment) Bill is on Committee Stage and has been taken on three different days. We have now reached amendment No. 7. All Stages of the Charities Bill have been completed in the Dáil and we will be taking Second Stage of that Bill. The Coroners Bill has reached Committee Stage in the House. Committee Stage of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 will be taken in the House. These are Bills due in the House and many more Bills are to come to the House. As we all know we will have the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. We will have the Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill. These are all due to be taken in the House before the Christmas recess.

I have responded, as I have always done, to the requests of colleagues on the Order of Business to have debates and statements on urgent issues. I will continue to do that when convenient bearing in mind legislation and Ministers' diaries. We have responded at all times to leaders' requests and those of other Senators who have made such requests of me on the Order of Business. I look forward to this evening's debate on rural development. As we all know, Ireland does not stop at the Dublin border; it stops on the sea. We are representative of all parts of our country and not just one part. I look forward to colleagues on all sides of the House contributing to a meaningful debate on rural development.

I have no difficulty in allowing time for a debate on the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission. Regarding cervical cancer immunisation, the Government has invested €30 million on screening for females which started in September. We must not lose sight of the fact that €30 million has been invested in very tight economic times. We will do all we can, on all sides of the House, to ask the Minister to initiate the programme at the earliest possible time so that 12 year old girls and those who urgently need it can be vaccinated. I understand the cost of the programme is more than €10 million and may cost €14 million or €15 million. However, if finance is available, it should be done as a matter of urgency. I agree with the Leader of the Opposition, Senator Fitzgerald, in her call for that to be done. I do not want to let go unnoticed the €30 million that has been invested already for a programme in this area that commenced in September.

Senator Ross called for an urgent debate on Aer Lingus. I would have no difficulty in this taking place. It is timely that it should take place. He expressed his views on IDA Ireland, on which his favourite Sunday newspaper, the Sunday Independent, had an article last Sunday. I know the challenges faced by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland which work hard to create vast numbers of jobs in this country.

I thank colleagues who attended the special meeting that took place after the Order of Business on Thursday morning on energy costs. At that meeting I gave my word to colleagues on all sides of the House that we should all go back to our parliamentary party meetings to debate that matter this week. It is down for debate in the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting this evening. I hope colleagues on the other side of the House have it down for their parliamentary party debates.

It was alarming to watch television last night and hear the serious views being expressed at the energy forum yesterday. The ESB and Bord Gáis have sought another increase having only got an increase a few weeks ago. It is unacceptable and unsustainable. We on all sides of the House must unite in our fight. To maintain jobs is the priority of the Government and Opposition in both Houses of the Oireachtas. We should send that message out loud and clear to any body seeking an increase in the next two years. They must simply forget about it as far as I am concerned, and I am speaking personally here. If they do not, we will see unprecedented increases in the levels of unemployment. I am talking from vast experience of this area. We made insurance the priority in the previous Government. This Seanad must lead the way in stating that enough is enough and there should be no more increases for anything that will interfere with the keeping people in the jobs they have at present.