Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With a small bit of political apathy setting in, many people are switching from "Prime Time" to another programme on RTÉ called "First Dates". However, not all first dates end well. I welcome today the Garda backing a nationwide roll-out of an Ask for Angela campaign for those who feel unsafe on their dates. This campaign encourages those who feel uncomfortable in a situation, whether it be in a bar or restaurant, to ask a barman or a waiter to ask for Angela. This alerts the barman or waiter that the present company is making her feel unease and the barman or waiter will try to quieten the situation or put the woman at ease and in some situations, she could ask for a taxi home. This campaign started in Lancashire in England and has been rolled out successfully in Waterford. Cork County Council will also be rolling it out. I very much welcome the roll-out by An Garda Síochána of this campaign to protect women.

The second item I would like to raise today - it is with sadness that I raise it - relates to the 15th murder in connection with the Hutch-Kinahan feud last night. It is ten days after the murder of Derek Coakley. It is four days after the shooting on South Circular Road, where an innocent bystander was also shot. It begs the question as to how many more murders must happen on our streets before the Government takes proper action. Local communities are living in fear and there does not seem to be anything meaningful done by the Government. All I can say is the Government seems to be losing its war on gangland crime. I call for an emergency debate in this House and invite the Minister for Justice and Equality into the House to let us know exactly what he is doing to combat gangland crime in this city.