Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leader to set aside time after the Easter break for a debate on the pyrite scheme with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, or the Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey. It was in this Chamber that the first legislation was tabled to deal with the issue. The Seanad has done a great deal of work in that regard and it would be useful to engage in a review. The Minister of State probably has responsibility for this issue. I would, therefore, welcome a debate to look at the progress of the scheme and how we might be able to improve it. The previous Minister, Mr. Phil Hogan, had committed to doing this, but, obviously, he has now left for bigger and better things. However, I do not want us to lose focus as the issue is still affecting thousands of homeowners, mainly in Dublin but also along the east coast and the west coast. We must keep our eyes on the ball.

I had the pleasure today to launch a public order Bill for Dublin with my colleague, Deputy Niall Collins, to initiate a specific public order unit within An Garda Síochána that would focus on the city centre. While I welcome the additional gardaí who will come through the college in Templemore, we must look at how current resources are being used. Large swathes of the capital city are fast becoming no-go areas both for citizens and visitors. I hope, therefore, that the Government will see fit to support the legislation published today by my colleague which would put an onus on the Garda Commissioner to establish a specific unit to be charged with dealing with public order offences, including drug-taking, alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour, in Dublin city centre. Such legislation is badly needed, as I am sure colleagues across the House or anyone who has used the Luas to travel to Heuston Station at any time during the day or the DART will be aware. We have had debates on policing, but I would like the Government to look at the Bill for what it is, namely, an attempt to provide a partial solution to the problem. There were 700 offences in the capital city against tourists last year. There are, therefore, 700 individuals who will have a very bad impression of it. We need to clean up the streets and take back ownership of them.