John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I also wish to refer to the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill because when the war on crime is not being won, drastic measures are needed. Internment is no answer and neither is the current system that we are operating. At least the people who are brought before a non-jury court will have a judge sitting in a fair system whereby they can be adjudged as to whether or not they are members of criminal gangs. That is a lot more justice than they have ever given their victims whom they have often murdered out of hand. If society has shifted to the extent that criminals may start winning the war, then radical measures are needed. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation, yet that is the reality in Ireland today.

In seeking a debate on the banks, I am conscious that the director general of the Swedish debt agency appeared before an Oireachtas committee yesterday. Whereas he did not get directly involved in the Irish situation, he made it clear that the Government's actions are similar to the successful actions taken by the Swedish Government in the 1990s. That is in contrast to the difficult situation Iceland finds itself in. Sweden and Iceland have experienced similar economic difficulties. One is successfully managing its banks while the other is being bailed out.