Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

As I was travelling up on the M9 yesterday, I had an opportunity to listen to the radio. The first thing that came to mind was the beautiful highway which has added significantly to the competitiveness of our economy. It is a tribute to the vision which was invested in road infrastructure, particularly over the last 15, 16 or 17 years. Part of the news bulletin identified the €2.25 billion capital injection which the Government is now undertaking. It struck me that in the last budget, of which I was very critical, the soft option of removing €750 million from the capital programme, in addition to what the previous Government had already set out in the four-year programme, was a significant factor in reducing investment and competitiveness, as well as failing to create jobs in the short term.

I welcome what is being done, although the timeframe is too long. We will still be down hundreds of millions in investment in infrastructure this year and in 2013 and 2014, due to the decision to cut capital expenditure in the last budget. It is important for reality to bite home in that regard.

The second issue I wish to refer to came up next on the radio. It dealt with a report by Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell who has spent some days on the streets of our capital city, including O'Connell Street and adjoining streets. Her report was an appalling portrayal of lawlessness in the capital. She spoke about drug abuse and drug pushing, and how they interfere with citizens. She also talked about the level of drunkenness and the interference with tourists in the capital from whom property was stolen. It begged the question as to what gardaí are doing. The management of gardaí within the system must be held to account. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to attend the House for a debate on this matter. There may well be a need for a municipal police force here.

I commend Senator O'Donnell for a very incisive report. Nonetheless it was a very sad reflection on our capital city. We should not tolerate this situation or allow it to continue.