Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I concur with Senator Cummins regarding gangland crime. It is one of the greatest threats to this State. Whether in Limerick, Dublin, Cork or any other large population area, there are bodies working with absolute impunity while they terrorise communities every day of the week. Those who take a stand against them and take cases to court experience overt intimidation which will ultimately undermine the whole judicial process.

I have watched mothers, especially from the Limerick area, on television tell how they lost their sons callously to gangland crime, trying to come to grips with their loss while having the courage to talk out about it. There is no respect for life in that area. During the turbulence of the past 12 months resulting from the financial crisis, many real issues in the community have not been addressed. They may have got some type of cursory mention in the Seanad, but in the main they were sidelined. These are major issues.

Through the years I have been a Member of the Seanad, while I have never minded the cut and thrust of debate here, I have always acknowledged that this House gives an example of how democracy should be secured and promoted.