Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to compliment the Garda Síochána on the fact that 7,000 people have been arrested in the last 18 months under Operation Fiacla, which deals with burglaries around the country. This proves how widespread this problem is and, in particular, how vulnerable elderly people in rural Ireland are. Some 4,000 of these 7,000 people have now been charged and brought before the courts. As legislators, we have to ensure the proper supports are there for the Judiciary, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Síochána to deal with these people. Many are repeat offenders and, when they are charged and let out on bail, they continue to commit crimes.

The law should be changed. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House at some stage for a debate on how we, as legislators, can bring in supports for the Judiciary, the Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice and Equality in dealing with these people. I saw a newspaper report two weeks ago concerning a repeat offender who had more than 120 offences for shoplifting and more than 20 offences for driving without insurance but who had not been sentenced by a judge due to other circumstances. That is disgraceful. At this stage, we need to have a debate in the House in regard to sentencing and the way our criminals are dealt with. As I said, 7,000 people in 18 months is a lot of people arrested and shows that gardaí are doing a great job. None the less, we have to make sure the supports are in place so that, when they do catch these people, they are dealt with properly.