Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I take the opportunity to commend the work of An Garda Síochána in the past ten months and particularly in the past week in interrupting the deadly activities of the major international criminal gangs operating in Dublin city which have bases throughout Europe. The activities of crime gangs are feared throughout the city by families and communities who are wondering when the next murder or attempted murder will take place. In the past seven days illegal drugs worth almost €40 million have been prevented from flooding communities around Ireland and bringing misery to families and young people. Such drugs are wrecking lives and preventing children from growing into healthy adults engaged in worthwhile activities and careers. An arsenal of high calibre weapons was seized, preventing further deaths, while almost €500,000 was confiscated. I commend An Garda Síochána and urge it to maintain this level of activity. On behalf of communities, I thank it for making the country safer.

I again raise the issue of councillors' pay having raised it in the House a number of days ago. There is no logical reason the pay increase of €1,000 should not apply to councillors in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, is due to come to the House on 8 February, but I am not sure if we can wait until then to have the issue addressed. We need to have a serious discussion with him about it. The local authorities in Dublin, Cork and Galway are dealing with and overwhelmed by the problem of homelessness. Senator Grace O'Sullivan has referred to the fact that over 7,000 people were recorded as being homeless last month. In that context, the Minister's decision is unfair and lacks rationale. Will the Leader to bring the matter to the Minister's attention and ask him to devote some time to the issue during our discussions on 8 February, if we have to wait until then to meet him?