Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I am just giving a preamble. Perhaps the Minister might include in the Bill reference to fights in the Seanad.

The broad thrust of the Bill is to be welcomed and there is an important need for it. Anyone who watched Miriam O'Callaghan's programme on Saturday night would have been struck by Mr. Collins and the issue of gangland crime. I am concerned that the Minister is pinning down rank and file gardaí and that he will not allow the ranking of gardaí to be denoted in the Bill. The rank of chief superintendent has status as a commanding officer and stating this rank in the Bill would take away the emphasis from local gardaí. The provision will cause difficulty for local policing. The work of local gardaí receiving information on crime, working in local neighbourhoods and gathering intelligence helps to solve much crime.

Will the Minister provide the House with his definition of what constitutes a gang? Is it one or two people who gather at the corner of a chipper on a Friday night with intent to sell or partake in drugs or to partake in anti-social behaviour? We need to have a serious approach to the issue of gangs, not only with regard to gangland crime but the wider issue of the congregation of gangs which is not provided for in the Bill.