DÁIL REPORT:TOUGH NEW measures to combat crime were suggested by Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan.
He described the Drimnagh murder of two Polish men as one of the "most gruesome" in living memory. "We cannot bury our heads in the sand and hope that such an illogical and malicious attack will not happen again," he added.
"As a parliament, we must ensure that steps are taken to bring an end to the rising tide of stabbings, assaults and mindless violence."
Introducing a Fine Gael Private Members' motion, Mr Flanagan proposed: increased Garda powers to curb loitering and intimidation by groups; electronic tagging for repeat offenders; increased use of curfew orders; meaningful fines for the illegal sale of alcohol; empowering gardaí to confiscate alcohol from those illegally drinking in public places and on-the-spot fines.
Mr Flanagan said there should be a special grade of community garda to make it an attractive career option. "Community gardaí are absolutely essential to stemming the tide of antisocial behaviour," he said.
"If we want safe communities, we must embed gardaí with them." Mr Flanagan said crimes were being committed daily by yobs high on drugs and crazed with drink who had no respect for the law or their fellow man.
He called on the Government to mount a targeted six-month operation to take knives out of communities.
Mr Flanagan said his party recognised the seriousness of the threat posed by antisocial behaviour and the need for a co-ordinated approach.
There was need for ring-fenced funding and for a dedicated minister of state with responsibility for co-ordinating and driving a campaign to tackle the problem.
The number of Garda juvenile liaison officers should be increased, the probation service better resourced, all sections of the Children's Act implemented and new sporting and leisure facilities provided, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said he was consulting with the Polish ambassador about nominating a representative from the Polish community in the Republic to the National Crime Council. The council advised on a wide range of issues on how to deal with crime.
Mr Lenihan said statistics were cold comfort to crime victims and, in any case, every crime was a crime too many. "It is important, though, that what we say is grounded in reality and the fact is that serious crime per head of population has decreased in the past 10 years," he added.
"I say this, not to minimise the extent of our crime problem, but because it would be wrong to understate the achievements of members of An Garda Síochána and other agencies of the criminal justice system who day-in, day-out confront criminal behaviour on our behalf." Mr Lenihan said that every right-thinking person would agree that the number of deaths involving knives and similar weapons was a particular cause for concern.
The number of murders involving stabbing had doubled last year from 18 to 36.
There already were strong penalties for offences involving knives, he added. It was an offence to possess any knife or any similar article in a public place without without good reason or lawful authority.
Gardaí, said Mr Lenihan, had launched a publicity campaign aimed at discouraging people from carrying knives.
He intended, he said, to establish a joint policing committee in each local authority area in the State as early as possible.
