Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Once again, it is my sad duty this week to propose a vote of sympathy to our colleague, Senator Imelda Henry, on the death of her mother who passed away on Sunday last. I also wish to convey my sincere sympathy to the wife and family of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe who was so callously and brutally murdered in cold blood on Friday last. Our condolences must also go to his colleagues in the Garda Síochána who work so diligently on behalf of us all on a daily basis. I am sure it is the wish of all Members that the perpetrators of this cowardly and criminal act will be brought to justice soon. I also express my sympathy and that of the House to the family of former Senator Éamon de Buitléar. Obviously, we will have tributes to the former Senator at a later time.

The Order of Business is No. 1, address to Seanad Éireann by Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP, to commence at 2.45 p.m. in accordance with the arrangements set out in a motion passed by the House on Wednesday, 23 January 2013; and No. 2, Water Services Bill 2013 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 4.15 p.m. A revised schedule will issue later with changes to the business for the rest of the week.

For the information of Members, it is proposed to meet at 9.30 a.m. tomorrow for the Order of Business and to resume at 4 p.m. in line with similar arrangements in the other House as a mark of respect to the late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, whose funeral takes place tomorrow.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to convey the sympathy of the Fianna Fáil group to Senator Imelda Henry on the passing of her mother and also to the family of former Senator Éamon de Buitléar.

I agree with the Leader wholeheartedly. Today is not a day for business as usual regarding the political sparring that goes on from time to time in this House. Like all of us and all the people we know, including our families and friends, I am disgusted and horrified at what can only be described as one of the most callous murders of a young Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, a family man and someone who spent his life not only protecting us as a member of the Garda, but who was also heavily involved in his own community in County Louth in his local GAA club and in the school. The earnest wish of all of us today is that the perpetrators of this disgusting crime are brought to justice and that the full powers of the law are vested against them. It is my wish that they never see the light of day again.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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Well said.

Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)
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Unfortunately, in the past few decades in particular and since the establishment of An Garda Síochána in 1922, many men and women serving in the force have met early deaths protecting this State, be that at the hands of perpetrators who flew under an alleged flag of republicanism, criminal gangs or whatever. Our thoughts and the thoughts of the members of the Fianna Fáil group in the House, which the Leader mentioned, are firmly with Detective Garda Donohoe's family and his colleagues, who I visited in the detective branch in Swords yesterday where his brother serves. His entire family has a proud tradition in the Garda. I fully agree with the scheduling of the business for tomorrow. I ask that in the coming weeks we have a reasoned debate on policing in the House, but this is not the day to talk about the ins and outs of that. On behalf of our group, I offer our deepest sympathy to his family and express our revulsion at what happened to a man who died in the service of the State.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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On behalf of the Labour group, I join colleagues in expressing our sympathies to Senator Henry, on the death of her mother and also, of course, to the family of the late former Senator, Eamon De Buitléar. Again on behalf of the Labour group and personally I express absolute revulsion and disgust at the appalling murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. While much has been said about it, anyone who has read any of the circumstances of Friday night's murder will understand just how particularly vicious and brutal it was. All of us would want to send sympathies to his wife, his two very young children, his family and the community in the area. I agree with the Leader's rescheduling of business for tomorrow, which is appropriate. Fortunately it is a rare occurrence when a garda is shot dead in the course of duty and in the course of protecting the community. However, perhaps because it is so rare, it is very important to mark it with appropriate respect and sympathy. That is the right thing to do for tomorrow. I also agree that it is not the day for calling for the usual sorts of adversarial debates in light of what has happened. I again send sincere condolences and sympathies to detective garda Donohoe's family, friends and community. I also extend sympathies to his colleague, detective garda Joe Ryan, who must have been deeply traumatised by his experience in witnessing Friday night's events.

David Norris (Independent)
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I share my colleagues' sentiments and the feeling of outrage at this cold, calculated and callous murder of a decent man and outstanding member of his community, who was seen by us in the newspapers in his community and with children. He was a gentle giant and a pillar of the community. I express sympathy to his grieving wife and family. I pay tribute to An Garda Síochána and in particularly to his colleague, detective garda Ryan, who with extraordinary courage after this terribly traumatic event turned up in the Garda station to help in the efforts to find his colleague's killers. It is a sad day for us, particularly because of this situation. In addition there are a number of other people bereaved - our colleagues Senator Henry and Senator Clune, whom I just saw in the dining room. I presume we will have an opportunity to pay a more extended tribute to Senator Eamon De Buitléar who was such a vital and wonderful part of this House. I will also remember the late Kevin Heffernan, who was a vital part of the Dublin football team. I was lucky enough to see those three titanic matches in the 1970s between Dublin and Kerry, two of which, I am very glad to say, we won.

Even at this sad time we have to represent the citizens because there is sadness not just in bereavement, but there is sadness for many people in the experience of living. I received an e-mail from a public service employee who has been really struggling to survive as follows:

I type this letter as a very worried public sector employee ... I was just about able to pay my mortgage of ¤822 last year and now the mortgage is gone up to ¤987 and in the your words [because I replied to him] this is now unsustainable. I am 38 years of age engaged to be married but not much hope of the big day happing now ... I bought the house in 2006 for ¤235,000 one of the cheapest at the time now only worth ¤135,000.

I received another e-mail from a woman stating:

I have to bring to your attention the fact that a number of secondary school students were not allowed onto the school bus this week as they did not have a ticket. They were literally left standing on the side of the road, humiliated in front of their peers [their fellow schoolchildren] ... They are children of low and middle income working parents who simply could not afford the advance payment of ¤325 family ticket [or] individual child ¤175.

What kind of responsible society are we where we humiliate children who cannot afford it and we know that there are ever more families around the country who are put to the pin of their collar. As I say, it is a sad day. We have bereavement, but we also the sufferings of the living, to reflect upon in this House.

Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I condemn in the strongest possible terms the callous and dastardly murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe outside Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan on Friday night last. The people of Dundalk, the people of County Louth and all Irish people are outraged by this dastardly deed.

Detective Garda Donohoe was a decent honourable man who was brutally murdered in the course of his duty as a member of An Garda Síochána. I knew Adrian well from my time as principal of Bellurgan national school. I vividly remember him coming in to register his child. He was a lovely man, quiet and caring. Senator Norris has said he was a gentle giant, and that he was. He came across immediately that day as having a deep love for his family. He had so much to offer and now he is gone. It is an absolute disgrace and my heart goes out to his wife and children.

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has said that no stone will be left unturned in apprehending and bringing to justice the perpetrators of this evil deed. I ask the Leader to confirm to the Minister our full support for his position in this regard.

Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)
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I join with others in offering sympathies to the Henry family and, obviously, the family of Detective Garda Donohoe - there will be much debate about that in coming days. I would ask that, while I appreciate that my colleague, Senator Darragh O'Brien, has said that, given the seriousness of the crime perpetrated last week and the callous murder of Detective Garda Donohoe, this is not a day for normal business, as Senator Norris stated, we must also press on and raise the issues that are necessary.

As Senator Darragh O'Brien stated, a debate would be useful. There was a debate last week in the context of dealing with issues to do with the Garda. Resourcing, this crime aside, is a major issue within the Garda. While people understand that the Government must make cuts, when it comes to front-line health service and law enforcement all of us would gladly contribute more to have the knowledge of our relative security, and that is incumbent on all of us. When that debate takes place, perhaps we can begin to peel back the blindfold on some of the issues within the Garda that are being under resourced. For example, Sligo, in the north-west, has a detective unit of eight detectives and there is one car between them. Cavan has a unit with six detectives and there is no car for those six detectives. While I can appreciate when the Minister states that the crime of last week is in no way connected to resources, when there are eight detectives in Sligo and six in Cavan with but one car for those 14 Garda to do their duties, I am bound to conclude we are not providing them with the necessary resources.

Finally, I ask for an early clarification from the Minister for Finance, if he is available to come to the House - he has so often made himself available to us - to clarify what is going on in the context of the promissory note. This was announced to us as the panacea that would help deal with matters. We on this side of the House support the Government's efforts in this regard. The Taoiseach stated that Ireland is the only country that did not have the same tools available to it in dealing with the crisis as other countries have.

The people of Ireland and the Government have shown solidarity to European communion in helping to save the euro. Now it is time for them to reciprocate. There is complete confusion in this regard between Bloomberg, CNN and the various other news agencies. The people of Ireland, such as the person whom Senator Norris rightly pointed out is struggling to pay a mortgage, need to know what is in it for the Irish citizen.

John Kelly (Labour)
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Like others I offer my condolences to the family of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe who was so brutally murdered at the weekend. I am from a town where a similar assassination happened in 1980 with the deaths of two gardaí, Henry Byrne and John Morley. I know the Morley family well and I know how it has affected his wife Frances and the family since. My sympathies to go to the wife and children of detective garda Adrian Donohoe. I also express my condolences to my colleague, Senator Imelda Henry, on the death of her mother.

I wish to raise an issue to which the people of Roscommon woke up on Sunday morning when they read the Sunday Independent to see the Minister for Health was able to find money to invest in two small hospitals in Wexford and Kilkenny. Having read everything on this, I have absolutely no issue with it and quite rightly both hospitals deserve the funding they require to exist. However, the people of Roscommon were in the same position. We were 37 or 38 miles away from the nearest accident and emergency department but it was decided to strip us of that department based on information from HIQA which had never visited the hospital. This calls into question the role of HIQA. I have always stated that HIQA was created by the HSE to cover for it and for the political system so they were not to blame. I call for a debate - with the Minister for Health and nobody else - on the way forward in our health service, smaller hospitals and accident and emergency departments. This could be done as a matter on the Adjournment. If it is good enough for the Minister to find money for a hospital in Kilkenny or Wexford it is good enough for him to do so for the people of Roscommon who are in exactly the same position.

Sean Barrett (Independent)
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I join in the expressions of sympathy to Senator Henry, the de Buitléar, Heffernan and Donohoe families and the Garda Síochána who look after us so well not only in this House but throughout the country. As we have been hearing, Detective Garda Donohoe was a man in the best traditions of service to the Garda Síochána, his community and the GAA.

Yesterday Raymond McCartney, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Justice in Stormont, who is a member of Sinn Féin, conveyed to the full house there calls for the fullest liaison and co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI in the wake of this appalling murder. I hope the Leader will convey our appreciation for their concern about what happened over the weekend. It is deeply ironic that the last time the two police services on the island worked together was to see off our team for the Special Olympics which was hardly 24 hours before. It is appalling that such a tragedy struck. We wish our colleagues in Stormont and in the two police forces every success in finding the people who committed such an appalling crime.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I attended very moving and beautiful ceremony last Sunday in the Mansion House, which commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day. I congratulate the committee involved in organising what was a beautiful ceremony. I also congratulate the Minister for Justice and Law Reform on the magnificent speech he gave at the ceremony. Holocaust Memorial Day was established in 2000 after the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust on the 55th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. Ireland has held a commemoration every year since 2003. It commemorates the 6 million Jews murdered during the Second World War and also those who were persecuted and lost their lives because of religious belief, the colour of their skin, ethnic group, sexuality or a disability.

The House must remember, lest we forget. We must ensure that it never happens again.

David Norris (Independent)
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Well said.

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I wish to be associated with the votes of sympathy to the families of Senator Henry, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and former Senator Éamon de Buitléar. I presume we will have a debate on the death of Detective Garda Donohoe at a later stage.

I was going to raise a matter last December and, having listened to the radio travelling up here today, I think it is appropriate that I should refer to it now. In Amsterdam, the mayor and city council have established what the Dutch newspapers are calling "scum villages". This arises with regard to what is happening in Ennis. Anti-social behaviour is being replicated in every town and village in Ireland. Amsterdam and other areas in the Netherlands are moving repeat offenders out of their houses into Portakabins or ship containers. They are then moved to an area outside the town where they are supervised 24/7 by social workers and the police. They are not allowed to leave these areas until they learn to behave properly.

I am asking the Leader for a debate on sentencing. Last week, we saw a high-profile case on sentencing. Anti-social behaviour is a blight on every community and is terrifying decent people. We may not establish what the Dutch newspapers refer to as "scum villages", but the only way to control these people is through their pockets. I do not know what fines are collected in this regard.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Is the Senator seeking a debate on the issue?

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I am seeking a debate on sentencing and how we can control anti-social behaviour in this country.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Ba mhaith liom féin, thar cheann Ionadaithe Shinn Féin, ár gcomhbhrón a chur in iúil don tSeanadóir Imelda Henry agus dá muintir as bás a máthar, agus do chlann Éamon de Buitléar, dá bhean, Laillí, agus do chlann a chlainne. Fear mór le Gaeilge, le scannánaíocht, le cultúr agus le teanga ab ea é. Airímid uainn go mór é ach d'fhág sé oidhreacht iontach ina dhiaidh. Go ndéana Dia trócaire air.

We also support the messages of condolence to the family, friends and local community of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe who was savagely murdered. It was a terrible murder that should never have happened. Our hearts go out to him and to everybody connected with him. We hope the perpetrators are brought to justice as soon as possible.

On a wider perspective, I am seeking a debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the review of court services around the country. Yesterday, it came to my attention that staff in Derrynea courthouse in County Galway were told that their administrative office is to be closed down by the end of April. I understand this is part of a rationalisation process. The courthouses concerned are at Inis Mór and An Spidéal in County Galway, as well as Derrynea in Connemara, which is one of only a few Irish-speaking courts in the country. This is a national review, so it would be good if the Minister could attend the House to explain its current status and his plans. I am afraid that there will be a scaling down of court services, particularly in rural areas, which would be a retrograde step. I am calling for that not to happen. I ask the Leader to convey those points to the Minister and request him to attend to this issue as soon as he can.

Marie Moloney (Labour)
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I also wish to extend my sympathy to Senator Henry and her family, as well as the family of the former Senator Éamon de Buitléar. I also wish to condemn the callous murder of the young Detective Garda, Adrian Donohoe, in the line of duty.

In Cork University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital a two-bedroom unit and four-bedroom unit, respectively, remain closed for epilepsy services. The unit in Beaumont Hospital was refurbished at a cost of ¤1 million but remains closed due to the staff recruitment embargo. The consultant neurologist, Dr. Norman Delanty, is one of the country's foremost experts in epilepsy. He has said that he will be forced to send patients abroad for such services unless these units re-open.

People who have been advised to go abroad for treatment have tried to access funding from the HSE.

However, they have been told by the HSE to access services in Beaumont Hospital. It appears to me as though the HSE is at odds with itself and its right hand does not appear to know what its left hand is doing. Although it is telling people to access these services, they are closed. Consequently, I wish to add my voice to that of Senator Kelly in calling for a debate in the House in which the Minister for Health should participate. Moreover, this should not be an Adjournment debate but I ask that the Minister participate in an open debate in which Members can ask questions of him on the matter. In addition, the ban on staff recruitment should be lifted to enable the opening of these units because more than 200 patients are waiting to access the services, some of whose lives are at risk. Finally, I wish all the best to the Special Olympics team that has gone abroad to represent Ireland in the Winter Games over the coming weeks.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I join with all sides of the House in expressing deepest sympathy to the Donohoe family, to the Garda Síochána as a body of fine men and women, as well as in condemning unreservedly the callous murder of a servant of Ireland, who appears to have been an absolutely wonderful human being. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. I also wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the late Mrs. Henry, Senator Henry's mother, who was a wonderful woman. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam. In common with Senator Norris, I came into this House on the same day as did the late Senator de Buitléar, who was nominated to the then Seanad and who made a highly distinguished contribution during his time here.

As a member of the joint policing committees, JPCs, in both my native County Leitrim and County Sligo, I attended a meeting yesterday of the Leitrim JPC at which a discussion took place on a document that has been communicated by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, seeking proposals from the various JPCs nationwide on how best the aforementioned committees can more effectively represent community interests and consultation. At some point in the near future, the Leader might consider having a debate on that particular document in the light of the proposals in the Putting People First programme of local government reform of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, under which a revised or reconfigured JPC will be operating. It might be useful for all sides of the House to have a debate on this issue and to establish the Minister's thinking in this regard. I am unsure whether there would be a need to further discuss it further with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. I would be grateful were there Leader to respond to that.

Finally, I commend the remarks of my friend and colleague, Senator O'Neill, in respect of the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day. I have visited a number of the concentration camps in Germany and Poland and have seen at first hand the horrors of the Nazi killing machine. Moreover, in the company of Senator O'Neill, I recently visited the German Bundestag, at which there is a memorial to democratically elected MPs who also perished in the Holocaust. As parliamentarians, Members should remember they gave the ultimate sacrifice in the preservation and protection of democratic traditions. However, I commend Senator O'Neill on continuing what has been a proud tradition in this House of recording the Holocaust memorial weekend.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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In common with many others, I wish to express my sympathies to Senator Henry on the death of her mother and to the family of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on his brutal killing, as well as to the Deloughery family from Kilkee, County Clare into which Detective Garda Donohoe was married. A number of members of the Deloughery family are serving members of An Garda Síochána. It is a family that has contributed a lot to the protection of the State and it is horrific that a serving member of An Garda Síochána should be killed in such a brutal manner while protecting the people's money. I attended a meeting of the Clare joint policing committee yesterday, which was adjourned as a mark of respect to Detective Garda Donohoe. The people of County Clare stand in solidarity with the people of Ireland, especially the people of Dundalk where Detective Garda Donohoe was a serving member. It is horrific and I encourage anyone with information to assist An Garda Síochána in tracking down those who murdered a serving member of the Garda.

Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)
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I join in the expressions of sympathy to Senator Henry and to the de Buitléar family on the death of their loved ones. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anam.

I also join in the expressions of sympathy and outrage that have been expressed today on the brutal murder of Detective Garda Donohoe. They are heartfelt and they reflect the feelings of a stunned nation at this time. People cannot begin to understand how anyone could do what was done to Detective Garda Donohoe but it is a reminder of the vicious elements that still exist in society. At all times we must be cautious and supportive of our police force in every way possible. I listened to a television commentator last night and he stated how our police force enjoys the affection and appreciation of all the people, more than any police force in the world. One of the reasons for that, as I have said in the House on many occasions, is that we have one of the finest police forces in the world. Detective Garda Donohoe is a hero, a patriot in every sense of the word. He was putting his life on the line, as all gardaí must do, to protect our way of life, give us a sense of security and uphold the State.

Two Senators today referred to Detective Garda Donohoe as a gentle giant. He was that in every sense. I did not know him personally but realised this when I read about him subsequently and heard the expressions of admiration for him. I also realised that this was a moment in the life of the nation when we had to be determined that there would be zero tolerance in regard to any activity of a violent or barbaric nature, that we should help our police force through the Legislature in any way we can. In this House there is a completely non-partisan approach to good policing; we are all working for the same aim. That is the greatest message we can give from this terrible tragedy: we are united on this issue. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

Lorraine Higgins (Labour)
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Like my colleagues, I express my sympathies to the Henry family in Sligo and to the family of Éamon de Buitléar, whom I had the pleasure of meeting on a school tour back in 1985.

Today, however, I want to bring up the unforgivable act that resulted in the loss of life Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and the trauma inflicted on Detective Garda Joe Ryan in County Louth last week. What happened was unspeakable and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. This cowardly act, however, has focused my attention on those working in front-line services. While we have 13,500 brave gardaí out there on a daily basis protecting us and serving their country in highly dangerous situations, we must remember those paramedics, prison officers, fire fighters and those working in accident and emergency departments and the Civil Defence who might not have been subjected to such a barbaric act as Detective Garda Donohoe but who too often have been victims of abuse. These people are understated national heroes who go about their jobs every day all too familiar with the specific occupational hazards. They deserve our support and I will do all I can to protect those who are in harm's way because of their jobs. We must adopt a policy of zero tolerance for those thugs who threaten the very essence of what these people do. While all citizens are equal, we must prioritise the rights of some of these workers and send out a strong message out that we will stand up for those working in front-line services. On that basis, I am calling for a debate on the issue.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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I join other Senators in sympathising with Senators Henry and Clune on the recent deaths of their mothers. I also sympathise with the de Buitléar family on the death of former Senator Éamon de Buitléar.

In particular, I join my colleagues in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the vicious and callous murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was a native of Kilnaleck, County Cavan. Detective Garda Donohoe and his family are highly respected in the local community around the small village. On behalf of the people of County Cavan, I extend my sympathies to his wife, two small children, parents and immediate family in Kilnaleck.

The media have used words such as "assassination", "fatally injured" and "killed" but there is only one way to describe what took place and that is "murder most foul". I condemn it in the strongest possible terms and commend the Leader on proposing to adjourn the House tomorrow after the Order of Business to allow those Members who are able to do so to attend Detective Garda Donohoe's funeral in Dundalk and show our support to his family and the Garda Síochána whose members risk their lives daily to protect the rest of us. I concur with the statement by the leader of my party that today is not the day to take this debate any further. An urgent debate on policing, particularly in rural areas, is required and the issues raised by Senator MacSharry must be addressed urgently.

Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)
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Cónaím sa cheantar chéanna inar dúnmaraíodh cara liom féin ar an Aoine seo chaite. Fear iontach ab ea é, a chuidigh le gach duine a chónaigh in aice leis.

The murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was premeditated and planned without regard for human life. The murderers' only interest was financial gain. I know Detective Garda Joe Ryan and knew Detective Garda Donohoe perhaps a little better. He lived about six miles from my home and I had several conversations with him over the years. This morning, I visited his football club on my way to sign a book of condolences to his family. The local community is devastated at having lost a great young man. Detective Garda Donohoe was a true garda and everyone recognises the part he played in the community. He won a county championship medal with Naomh Pádraig in 2003 and after his football days were over, he gave of his time after work to benefit young people at Scoil Náisiúnta Bellurgan, where my colleague, Senator Jim D'Arcy, taught for some time.

The murderers of Detective Garda Donohoe must be caught and brought to justice. They must spend the rest of their days in prison. A sentence of 40 years should not be reduced to 30 or 25 years. The Garda and PSNI will work together. A member of my family suffered at the hands of the same thugs from south Armagh when his Jeep, including equipment he needs for work, was stolen. On Friday night, as soon as I mentioned the murder of the detective garda, he told me the thugs who had carried it out were living in south Armagh. I know gentlemen from the same part of the country but the individuals in question live in south Armagh and their only interest is in robbery and thuggery. As I stated, they robbed from my family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

Jimmy Harte (Labour)
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Like my colleagues, I extend my sympathy to the Henry, de Buitléar and Donohoe families on the immeasurable grief they are going through this week.

The Donohoe family will have a person missing from the Christmas table, and the children will not have a Dad at their birthday parties or for Christmas morning. Everyone in the country must be feeling as I feel about his death. It is something that should not happen again. I agree with Senator Terry Brennan's comments. I know the role the Garda has played in protecting this State since 1922. I had the personal experience as a young teenager of having gardaí protect our home against people who called themselves republicans and who were stoning our property. The gardaí had to stand and take the full force of their actions. They did it with pride and dignity, as did Detective Donohoe on Friday night. He died for his country. May he rest in peace.

Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)
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I extend my sympathy to our colleague, Senator Imelda Henry, on the passing of her dear mother, and to the family of former Senator Éamon de Buitléar.

There is an eerie silence around Leinster House today and, indeed, throughout Ireland. I extend my sympathy to the family of the deceased Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The hearts of the nation go out to the family today. This was not an accidental or panicked shooting. It was premeditated. That makes it more callous and chilling. There are people on both sides of the Border who know who were involved in this and I call on any right-thinking people who have any information to assist the Garda and the PSNI in bringing the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. I welcome the fact that the Garda and PSNI appear to be working in very close co-operation to bring about the arrest of those people as a matter of urgency. As Senator Brennan said, those people must serve the full 40 years for this crime.

All of us, as well as the security and democracy of this State, depend on the Garda Síochána being able to go about its business in a safe manner. We must applaud the courage and bravery of Detective Garda Joe Ryan who returned to work yesterday. The man had to be severely traumatised after losing his colleague, but he came to work to assist the Garda with its investigations. That showed true courage and bravery. I agree with colleagues that in the fullness of time we must have a debate on security in the State and ensure that the Garda is fully resourced at all times to do the job we expect it to do. Today, however, we share in the grief of the Donohoe family and we hope this will never be visited on another family in this country again.

Aideen Hayden (Labour)
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I also wish to express my sympathy to the family of our colleague, Senator Imelda Henry, and to the family of a former colleague, Éamon de Buitléar. Like other speakers, I wish to express my horror at the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

It is important to remember that there are areas of this country, and particularly of this city, where people walk around with impunity and where human life appears to have no value. There is not a day in the week when the gardaí do not enter no-go areas, so it is a miracle that there have been so few fatalities in the Garda Síochána.

I agree with colleagues who say we need a wider debate on this subject. It is shocking to think there are criminals - drug dealers and other forms of low life - who seem to have no difficulty whatsoever accessing firearms. We need to come back to this issue.

On a more positive note, I would like to mention the work of the Constitutional Convention last weekend and the very interesting outcomes relating to the term of the Presidency and the lowering of the voting age. The consensus among those who favoured the lowering of the voting age was to lower it to 16 years of age. There were some very interesting outcomes from the Constitutional Convention last weekend. Towards the end of the life of the Constitutional Convention towards the end of the year, it is its intention to discuss some wider issues around constitutional reform. I have long campaigned for the right to a home, for example. Will the Leader invite the chair of the Constitutional Convention, Mr. Tom Arnold, to the House and ask Members for their thoughts on the wider issues of constitutional reform which could be considered?

David Norris (Independent)
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Some 96% voted in favour of allowing the people to participate in the nomination process.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I sympathise with our colleague, Senator Imelda Henry, on the death of her mother, and with her father, Peter, who is well known to us. I also sympathise with the families of the late former Senator Éamon de Buitléar and the late Kevin Heffernan.

Of course, I join with colleagues in totally condemning the brutal murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe. We now know that these men were trapped in a car park and that Garda Donohoe was blasted out of it. He was slain in cold blood without any opportunity whatsoever to defend himself. Sadly, this area used to be referred to as "bandit country", but I am afraid some of the banditry is lingering on. I know the Garda and the PSNI co-operate wonderfully together, but in south Armagh and north Louth, consideration should be given to a corridor where both forces can operate together, and we should do whatever we need to do in legislation to enable it. We know, for instance, that if our forensic team had been able to gain access to the burned out car in Keady, it would have speeded things up and we would not have had the delay. That type of wonderful co-operation should be provided for. I am happy to leave it at that because, as Senator Darragh O'Brien said, today is not the day for normal business.

Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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Like my colleagues, I extend my sympathies to the Henry and the de Buitléar families on their bereavements. I would also like to comment on the senseless death of Detective Garda Donohoe. It makes no sense to any of us how a gang, no matter how heinous, would target a situation that was actually armed. That sort of occurrence is extremely unusual and that fact must be brought to bear when these men are brought to justice. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever that they would knowingly enter into a situation in which they would have been dealing with members of the Garda Síochána. Like others speakers, in particular Senator Brennan, I would welcome co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI and would appeal to the public, especially in the area where this occurred, to provide any information, no matter how insignificant it may appear, to the Garda to bolster its efforts to bring these men to justice as soon as possible. I agree with previous speakers that today is not the day for the debate but it raises the point that these people, who are at the front line on a daily basis protecting the citizens of this country and all aspects of our lives, including the financial aspect, which unfortunately was the case here, should be given the resources they require.

I would also like to commend the work of the Dublin joint policing committee, which I attend. It is not until one actually has regular interaction with the gardaí that one sees how responsive they are and how they take on board the suggestions made by various interested parties - politicians and others - to contribute to the overall security of the country.

I would also like to support the comments of Senator Hayden regarding the Constitutional Convention. I was very pleasantly surprised by the interactions and debate that occurred at the convention. It is a work in progress and this has never been done before. It is very novel and I was quite hesitant before attending and thought that it may not have the teeth we might like it to have. Certainly all areas of society are represented in the convention and I believe very good proposals will come from it. I hope the Government will listen to those proposals when the time comes. Senator Hayden's suggestion that we invite the Chairman, Tom Arnold, to the House so that we can contribute to the convention is a very good one.

Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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Before I call the Leader I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to our colleague, Senator Imelda Henry, on the death of her mother and to the family of the former Member of this House, Éamon de Buitléar, who died recently. I also wish to extend my sympathy to the wife and family of Garda Adrian Donohoe, to the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, Mr. Callanan and to all members of the force on the tragic loss of Mr. Donohoe.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business has rightly been dominated by votes of sympathy, particularly to the family of the late Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Members are rightly expressing their sympathy, outrage and horror at his murder. Members have spoken from the heart this afternoon, especially Senators Brennan and D'Arcy, who actually knew Adrian Donohoe and his children personally. This incident reminds us of the work that gardaí do on a daily basis in the protection of citizens and the institutions of this State. We all commend the wonderful co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI and I am sure all Members will join me in calling for anyone who has any information, however small, to give it to the gardaí or the PSNI in order to bring the perpetrators to justice, which is what everyone wants.

A number of other items were raised on the Order of Business. I note the points made by Senator Norris regarding a public servant who has mortgage difficulties. Certainly the humiliation of children, as described by Senator Norris, is totally unacceptable. Senator MacSharry raised the matter of the promissory notes about which negotiations are continuing and it is hoped they will be concluded by the end of March. That is the position of the Government and we hope to have a positive response before the end of March.

Senator Kelly referred to Roscommon Hospital and mentioned that he would raise it on the Adjournment. Senator O'Neill lauded the organisers of the Holocaust memorial service held recently. He also spoke about far-reaching proposals relating to repeat offenders and anti-social behaviour. We will be having a debate on law and order, sentencing and so forth and we can discuss those matters at that point in time.

Senator Moloney referred to the lack of recruitment of staff dealing with epilepsy in Beaumont Hospital.

This is a matter we should discuss with the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Health to ensure the unit is opened.

Senator Mooney raised the issue of the joint policing committees review. That can be taken in the context of our debate on law and order and sentencing policy.

A number of Senators referred to the constitutional convention. It is a work in progress. Recommendations will be discussed in the House at the appropriate time and I will ensure that will happen.

Senator Maurice Cummins:

Order of Business agreed to.

Senator Maurice Cummins:

Sitting suspended at 2.30 p.m. and resumed at 2.45 p.m.