An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-21
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PJ Murphy (FG), Agricultural Panel

It is with very great concern indeed that I stand here today to draw attention to the shocking increases in drug-related crime, drug use and drug-related intimidation in my area, south Galway. More and more, we see decent local families go into debt to pay off the drug-related debts accrued by their sons and daughters, with great fear of repercussions for them and their children if they do not do so. In recent weeks, we have heard of threats to burn houses, the burning of cars and vehicles, extreme vandalism, burnings in farmyards and threats against people themselves. I am worried that it is only a matter of time before we see in my area, south Galway, a repeat of what happened in Edenderry. Therefore, I call for a special drug unit of An Garda Síochána to be deployed in the south Galway area, including Gort, to make an example of the few despicable and unscrupulous characters who are bringing so much turmoil to it, so that they will feel the heavy hand of Irish justice coming down upon them as a matter of urgency.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-21