Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 161 of 19 November and 182 of 26 November 2008, if he will expedite a reply to question 182 from the Garda authorities in view of a recent murder (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45836/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The death of Mr O'Kane is deplored by all right thinking people and our sympathy is with his family and friends as well as the community in East Wall. Recent developments in the case preclude me from making any further comment on it at this time.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that members of the local Community Policing Unit have attended over twenty meetings with various groups representing the East Wall area including the East Wall Residents' Association. Individual residents from the East Wall area have also attended meetings of the North Inner City Community Policing Forum, the meetings of which are held in Store Street Garda Station and have also met with local Garda Management. Additional patrols by Gardaí and other special initiatives targeting various criminal activities, based on analysis of recorded crime and crimes trends, are addressing any issues brought to the attention of An Garda Síochána in the specific area referred to.

As I have outlined above, the Gardaí and the local community in East Wall work closely together and I believe that this tragic incident will reinforce their determination to continue working together.

The Deputy will appreciate that dealing with public disorder is an issue on which cooperation between the Gardaí and the local community is vital. That is why I am proceeding with the roll out of the joint policing committees, following its successful pilot phase. As part of this pilot, a committee was established in the Dublin City Council area, and further sub-committees in each of the city's five areas. These committees enable local authority representatives and officials and the Gardaí, with the participation of Oireachtas members and community interests, to get together in a structured way to discuss matters affecting the policing of the area. I believe that this approach has great potential.

The situation in the East Wall area will be kept under close review and the policing needs of this area will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.