Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that the Minister for Justice and Equality should come to the House to debate these issues, in particular, crime and the State's reaction to the crimes of recent days. We have witnessed many murders, none more brutal that the one in Sligo where somebody sitting in his home was tied up, beaten and left to die for a number of days. It shows a lack of fear among criminals that this crime took place yards from both the regional Garda headquarters and the seat of law and order, the courthouse, and near my own office. The victim was respected and he was no different from people in all our communities who could be killed in this manner. This crime shows a lack of respect for the law and that there is no respect for human life. Clearly, successive Governments, including the current one, have failed in their reaction to crimes of this nature. I am sure every Member received an e-mail from Australia where somebody has made a suggestion about offering a reward for information about the crime. When it suits us, we can incarcerate people such as Malcolm MacArthur for 30 years for a heinous crime, but, as we have witnessed in recent days, people known to be involved in murder, drugs and other criminal activity seem to only have been in jail for a few years before being released for crimes that could be said to have been more serious.

Clearly, our justice system is floundering. I do not believe the courts and the Garda are being provided with the resources they require to prevent people from carrying out such heinous and brutal crimes and, for that reason, and without taking from the important points that have been made, this issue should be at the top of our agenda today. When one considers the lack of respect for human life with five people cut down over the past number of days without us taking the appropriate action, it is important that we debate the issues as a matter of the utmost urgency with a view to introducing emergency measures and resources for the Garda and the other authorities to ensure some level of fear can be injected into these criminals who are clearly holding the State to ransom.