Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The heinous murder of Garda Tony Golden has diminished us all. Following the equally foul murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, this vile act has stunned the communities of Omeath, Blackrock and the wider Border area. There is a major problem with criminals masquerading as republicans and indulging in criminal acts such as large-scale smuggling, including of tobacco, diesel laundering, racketeering and extortion. They are out of control.

The Garda is undoubtedly doing a great job. In recent weeks, there has been evidence of an increased Garda presence in Cooley and my area of Haggardstown. I am told that a great deal of valuable information has been gathered, not just on cross-Border criminality but also on motorway criminals. The Garda is building a large bank of information.

What measures have been taken to increase security in the area following the heinous murder of Garda Golden? I wish to raise the suggestion of a cross-Border task force involving the Garda, the PSNI, the Revenue Commissioners, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, HMRC, the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, the UK National Crime Agency, the relevant justice Ministers and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA.This task force concept has been advocated previously by a committee of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly chaired by Senator Paul Coghlan in its comprehensive report on cross-Border crime. I was very pleased to see yesterday that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, has called for the establishment of this task force. In the context of the talks going on around the Stormont House agreement and the danger to the institutions in the North, he has said that he sees that such a task force would be a vital component of the successful conclusion of those talks. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan, is right on the money in his suggestion to establish a task force. I hope he gets the full support of all involved for his proposal. It is time to put a stop to the gallop of these criminals who think they are beyond the law.