Lisa McDonald (Fianna Fail)

We are at tipping point with regard to gun crime. We need a collaborative approach to it rather than expecting the Government and the Garda Síochána to deal with the matter. Prevention and intervention are as important as enforcement. Bullets cannot be repelled with legislation and denunciation. We need new thinking. We need to learn from other countries where young people at risk of engaging in gun crime are identified by police and they and their families are targeted with a range of resources to prevent their progress into serious criminality. We need to mobilise local task forces and perhaps give the go-ahead to the joint policing committees to work with schools, the probation and welfare service and social services to gain access to the homes of young people who could be at risk of becoming involved in gun crime.

Often, the children concerned are brought up by single mothers trying to make ends meet. During previous debates on crime I stated we needed to examine our family law legislation, with particular reference to unmarried fathers. We need to make fathers more responsible for their children and have men in the lives of the children concerned. It is ridiculous to have time in the courts spent by fathers applying for guardianship of children. If they were given responsibility for their children from the word go, we would have a far better fabric of society.

We must not be shy in stating the State must think ahead and intervene. However, we need to intervene when the young people concerned are in the cradle to keep them out of harm's way. In this context, we need to examine job creation, literacy programmes, summer camps, extra social services and activities. I agree with what the Minister stated on tackling gun crime. However, we are considering it from one end only, as opposed to from the beginning.

DNA testing was mentioned and it is absolutely vital. We also need tougher policing. In the United Kingdom tougher policing has resulted in a reduction in street crime by 16% since the introduction of the street crime initiative. This shows the effectiveness of carefully targeted co-ordinated and well resourced policing measures. Senator Quinn mentioned the increase in the number of murders and gun crime in the United Kingdom, despite strict gun legislation, which is of note. We can learn from this when we introduce legislation next year.

The increase in the use of cocaine and its link with gun crime and culture was also mentioned. We know for a fact and have seen evidence that some of the cocaine sent to Ireland comes with a number of unasked for guns. It is normal that guns and drugs are given to gangs to be used in continuing their reign of terror. That is a fact. We may have lost some of the battles in this regard but should not tolerate the activities of those who think it is smart or sophisticated to use guns. While many older gangland criminals might be beyond rehabilitation and require a harder policing approach, we must never give up hope the next generation could be engaged and developed.

I note the recent comments by the head of the Garda inspectorate, Ms Kathleen O'Toole, mentioned by the Minister. She told the Law Society Gazette that if more gardaí were relieved from court duties, they could spend time on the beat in communities and help prevent gun crime. This might result in effective intervention in the lives of young people at risk. It is the type of constructive solution we need. On Monday last week I was in Wexford District Court and counted 30 gardaí waiting to give evidence; approximately five of the cases ran. This is a complete waste of time. I am not sure many gun crimes are committed in the morning but if this statistic is replicated throughout the country, one can see my point. Valuable time is wasted while files could be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and witnesses interviewed.

I commend the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, on the proposed de facto ban on legally held handguns. The evidence is that many guns are being used to commit crimes in the State and that guns are stolen. We must tackle this trend through the introduction of controls. Therefore, the Minister's proposal is welcome.

Although by international standards gun crime is not at the crisis point it has reached in other countries, we must not see this as an excuse to adopt a soft approach. Laws dealing with gun criminals need to be significantly toughened and the ringleaders need to be taken out of circulation with the youngest placed in secure accommodation, if necessary, or subject to intervention. Members of the public are afraid of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and we have had a myriad of examples during the year. Most murders involving the use of guns are gangland related and stem from the use of drugs and the money that can be made from them. I gather we have had examples of professional gunmen and mercenaries being flown in from abroad to take people out before leaving again. This is a frightening prospect for us to face as a society. One can throw all the resources and legislation one wants at the problem of gun crime but more people are using drugs. Drugs were confined to deprived parts of our cities 20 or 30 years ago and a scourge on the less well-off in society. However, despite our best efforts, the drugs culture is expanding, as increased numbers of the middle class use them. Senator O'Donovan was hopeful that in these recessionary times drug use would decrease but, unfortunately, the facts prove the opposite. As greater demand for leisure drugs is generated, more drugs enter the State, drug barons make more money and become more vicious in doing what is necessary to protect their patch. Citizens must face up to this frightening reality. The sophistication of the weaponry being used has also been mentioned and it is frightening. Automatic and semi-automatic handguns are weapons used by foreign armies.

Gun crime is largely linked with gangland and drug crimes. However, last week I heard a story which was a direct replica of a soap opera event on "Eastenders" and played out to the letter in rural Ireland. We must examine the effect soap operas have on society. This might seem facetious but it is true and I have heard many examples. People believe what they see on television is true. We are approaching Christmas and people are not in the best of form. They will watch what is happening on "Eastenders" and "Fair City". The media must take responsibility and stop glamorising crime, particularly gun crime.

Domestic violence and crime against women need to be mentioned in this debate. We need to examine our laws on domestic violence and make it easier for women to come forward. Many crimes are perpetrated against women; we had another horrific example last night. It was not a gun crime as a knife was used which leads me to believe that even if we remove guns from society, knives will still be in use. We are at tipping point. Guns must not become a permanent feature of our landscape. We need to get rid of them altogether. I commend the Minister on his bravery and courage in his efforts to do this.

With regard to drugs and gun crime, it seems that in many instances, despite the welcome intervention of Mr. Justice Charleton, the Judiciary has ignored the minimum mandatory penalties laid down by the Oireachtas.