LABOUR JUSTICE spokesman Pat Rabbitte described anti-social behaviour as a "malaise" in Irish society.
"Anti-social behaviour is a major issue that ought to attract more attention in this House than it does," he said. "I regret that we only seem to really focus on it after the kind of horrific event which recently happened in Drimnagh."
Mr Rabbitte added that anti-social behaviour was corrosive and undermining of any quality of community life. It was "a modern day sickness", he added.
He was speaking during the resumed debate on a Fine Gael Private Members' motion calling for a series of measures to deal with crime. Paul Kehoe (FG, Wexford) said that in his constituency a garda had to use his own car when on patrol. "That is totally unacceptable," he added.
Margaret Conlon (FF, Cavan-Monaghan) said parents should be responsible for their children.
The loss of the church's influence was a factor in the rise in ant-social behaviour, she said.
"Our societal structure is now so totally unrecognisable to a mere 15 or 10 years ago, that it is felt that Dundrum town centre and such similar venues are now the cathedrals of the 21st century," Ms Conlon added.
MJ Nolan (FF, Carlow-Kilkenny) said over the past six months, he had observed a significant increase in the number of complaints about anti-social behaviour. "It is a problem which is now, manifestly, common in every housing estate," he added.
Michael Ring (FG, Mayo) said that a mandatory life sentence for murder should mean life. "And if somebody gets caught with drugs, it must be a mandatory sentence of 10 years," he added.
Mr Ring called for the law to favour people being attacked in their homes. Agreeing, Dr James Reilly (FG, Dublin North) said: "What about people, like Padraig Nally, who were tormented?"
