I will bring the Chamber back to a serious issue. A number of weeks ago, I raised an important and serious issue of gangland crime and crime generally and the major negative impact it is having in communities and throughout the country. Since then, we have seen the terrible plight of Steve Collins and his family having to flee the country following the horrific murder of his son, Ryan, as a consequence of gangland criminals. We have also seen the horrific death of a young Polish worker Lukasz Rzeszutko, a model worker and son beaten to death by a gang for a buzz. There has also been the disgraceful case of a violent prisoner who was involved in the death of a garda released to an open prison. That is a very serious case and the public is very angry about it.

These deaths and threats are happening on our streets. I am glad the Minister for Justice and Equality is in the Chamber as there are many more unreported incidents yet there seems to be no widespread political revulsion. The silence is deafening.

First, will the Minister join with me in paying tribute to Steve Collins, his family and the other victims for their bravery, dignity and sheer courage as they have done this State some service? Second, if the Government is serious about standing with them will the Minister outline to me how it will protect our citizens? Does the Minister realise that many of our people are wondering who is running the country and the justice system in this State? Third, can the Minister tell this House how he and his Government intend to tackle these gangs and end lawlessness in this country?

I might begin by acknowledging Deputy McGrath's final day as leader of the Technical Group. I understand he will be rotating out and handing over the baton to Deputy Pringle in the future.

We are so sorry.

I hope the trauma of the loss of leadership will not be too great for him to endure.

On the very serious matter Deputy McGrath has raised, there is no right-thinking person in the country who does not acknowledge the debt this State has to Mr. Collins and his family who stood by the institutions of this State at great personal risk.

Hear, hear.

It is profoundly sad that he had to come to the conclusion that to live a normal life he had to move out of his home city. That is shocking. I am aware that the Minister for Justice and Equality and this Government has done everything to stand by Mr. Steve Collins and his family and support him in the decision that was best for him and his family.

On the broader issue of gangland crime, the Deputy will be aware that the crime figures generally are significantly improved and that the actions of the Garda Síochána, particularly in Limerick, have ensured that what is probably the most pernicious and vicious gang this country has ever had to encounter has been brought to heel, that many of them are in jail and that legal proceedings are pending against many more. That is not to say we should be complacent. We are not because often thugs who end up in jail are replaced by the next generation of thugs. It is an ongoing battle but I assure the Deputy that no resource will be spared in the fight against these pernicious gangs in particular.

You opposed the legislation that put them in jail.

I thank the Minister for his comments on my rotating in the Technical Group. I assure him that we have a group of very talented people in the Technical Group and I wish them well in the future.

I thank the Minister for his response and I hope he takes on board my views on the question I asked earlier because it makes one wonder when one contrasts the bravery and integrity of somebody like Steve Collins and his family with the carry-on in the tribunals. That is what people are saying on the streets. Does the Minister accept now that we need a new and radical strategy to deal with this violent gangland crime issue? Also, does he accept that we need more prevention measures? There appears to be too much emphasis on what happens after the killings. We need more prevention measures.

I raise another serious issue for which we and the broader society have a responsibility. Will the Minister accept there is a connection between the violence occurring and the consumption of cocaine and alcohol? Most gardaí, nurses and fire officers on the ground will tell one that the people who mix alcohol and cocaine are the ones involved in extremely violent incidents, and they happen every night in our communities. How will the Minister's Government deal with the huge market for cocaine?

The late Tony Gregory raised this issue many times, and I think of him here today. Will the Minister and his Government sit down with the anti-drugs community groups and senior gardaí and develop a new strategy to try to tackle this issue in the next two to three months?

It is important that we acknowledge success too. The Garda has been very vigilant and successful in confronting the gangs in Limerick in particular. Currently, 106 gangland members are in jail, including 20 of the leaders of the gangs, and that is because of the difficult task of following up the criminals and prosecuting them through the courts. That process is ongoing. The Minister for Justice and Equality has already told this House that the current significant raft of legislation is being reviewed constantly and the views of the Garda Síochána, particularly the Commissioner, on any resource or legislative measure that is required will always be entertained by the Minister.

On the drugs issue generally, the Deputy is right. We must get the message across to those who use drugs, particularly the middle class use of cocaine, that they are part of the gangland scene by providing a marketplace for this dangerous and destructive industry.