Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, and compliment him and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on the raft of reforming legislation which has been steered successfully through the Oireachtas in recent months and which will come to a conclusion in the next number of days. I particularly welcome this significant and timely legislation which addresses an issue which is near and dear to every citizen, namely, how the law can be strengthened to keep them safer from thugs who invade their private lives and homes where citizens are entitled to feel safe. The Bill does just that by addressing the issues of repeat offending and sentencing. It will close some loopholes in the justice system that allow dangerous criminals to commit multiple burglaries, obtain bail and reoffend while out on bail. Many people say it is long overdue to get tough with burglars, particularly those who use violence. We all know friends and neighbours whose homes have been burgled and some in this House have also experienced it, albeit without the violence, and know the trauma and anxiety it causes which last for a very long time.

Burglary with violence is a particularly heinous crime and must be met with the full rigour of the law. Members will have read about a case in east Galway last year which involved a business couple in their 70s who ran a shop off the motorway in the village of Kiltullagh. They have been burgled on a number of occasions and last year were savagely beaten. Their son who arrived on the scene was hit on the head with a hammer. Their business was ransacked as the burglars looked for cash before they sped off in a high powered vehicle down the motorway. Four months earlier the same couple had been robbed of cigarettes, equipment and cash. I heard a heart-rending interview recently on local radio with the elderly gentleman concerned in which he recalled the events which had happened to them in the past few years. He said their lives had been changed forever and that they found it difficult to sleep in their beds at night.We must put an end to this behaviour. It is ludicrous that repeat offenders who have been charged with multiple burglaries are given bail and often commit further offences while on bail. I cannot understand how this practice has been allowed to continue.

I concur with Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú that sentencing for home burglaries must reflect the seriousness of the crime which involves intruding on people's lives and instilling fear in them. Many professional burglars make smart use of technology and often have inside information. Above all, however, they have an outlet for disposing of stolen goods. This issue must be tackled by cutting off these outlets, thereby putting an end to their ability to dispose of stolen goods.

Investment is the key to tackling serious crime. The Government has invested heavily in crime prevention and Garda resources, including Operation Thor. The Garda was starved of investment during the recession. I am particularly pleased that a significant investment is being made in the Garda fleet. Approximately €34 million has been spent on Garda vehicles since 2012 and a further €5.3 million was allocated recently to fund the purchase of 600 additional new vehicles for the Garda fleet. I also welcome the recent announcement by the Minister that 600 new gardaí will be recruited in the coming year. Moves to strengthen the community approach to policing are also welcome. Community involvement through community and text alert and neighbourhood watch schemes is increasing and involves communities working closely with the Garda. There is no doubt that burglary rates decline significantly in communities where this approach is working effectively.

Today is significant in that we are passing legislation which will, I hope, deal with repeat offenders. We need to go further, however, by continuing to invest in Garda resources. I am pleased that a Garda station refurbishment programme was introduced early this year, much of which will come to fruition in 2016. I am not especially worried that small Garda stations will not reopen. I want to see more and more Garda patrols in rural communities at times when thugs are out doing their evil deeds. Having gardaí sitting in Garda stations is a waste of time. Unannounced Garda patrols in rural communities and villages are the best way to prevent crime.

I applaud the Minister for introducing the Bill. I am particularly pleased that every Senator who has contributed thus far has spoken in favour of it. Together, we can help to eliminate this cancer in society by dealing with criminals who are terrorising innocent people. We are entitled to feel safe in our homes. As the old saying goes, a person's home is his castle and we all expect to be safe when we turn the key in the lock at night.