Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I understand that. However, someone at some stage must stand back. We watched a programme last week which highlighted that cigarettes are being illegally imported into this country but a 13 cent fine was given for a major breach of the law. To have illegal cigarettes coming into the country and for an offender to get a 13 cent fine is wrong. Regardless of whether it is the role of the House, it is my role to say someone needs to examine sentencing, re-offending, the implementation of the Children Act, making parents responsible for juveniles who are out of home and the issue of who looks after people on curfew. Perhaps we should have a debate on the Garda reserve and the increasing role it could play in our policing needs.

I offer my sympathy and empathy to the family of Garda Robert McCallion, a native of Mayo with very strong Inishowen connections. He was mown down by a stolen car in the course of his duty and is fighting for his life. His family and gardaí deserve our thoughts and prayers at this particularly difficult time. We should be looking to strengthen the forces of law and sentencing.