Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026: Second Stage
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-22
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Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF), Louth

They will be safe enough as I am moving on to community service orders. The Minister and I have had many interactions before in relation to all the good work the Garda does and the work done on early interventions, of which there are not enough. I have spoken many times before about the TEAM Project in Muirhevnamor and the youth diversion project operating out of the house in Cox's Demesne. They have done huge work, especially since they have been able to involve themselves in earlier interventions, but we need to see far more of that. I have said to the Minister more than once that there needs to be a proper, real discussion on the issues that are out there, particularly in relation to the complex cases caused by addiction, the drug menace, the 169 organised crime gangs that are in operation across Ireland and the drugs epidemic that is impacting across the entire society but which is particularly prevalent and harmful within working-class areas where people are sometimes under the jackboot. That means drug debt intimidation, violence and all the rest of it. There is also the estate management aspect and ensuring we have the addiction services, the early family interventions and ensuring we can look after our most vulnerable while also protecting those impacted by the chaos, the violence and all the rest of it.
As I said, it has most impact in working class areas.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-22