Yesterday, the Committee of Public Accounts witnessed the toxic shambles that is senior Garda management. As we watched that theatre unfold, word came through of a shooting on Dorset Street in Dublin's north inner city, which claimed the life of a man. This ruthless murder was another shocking incident in broad daylight at the heart of a community caught in the grip of a criminal feud that has spiralled out of control.

There is no excuse for the fear inflicted on the people of the inner city by criminals who flout the law and put the lives of innocents in jeopardy. Those responsible for this shooting must be brought to justice. I appeal to anyone who has any information whatsoever to bring it to the Garda. The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality cannot stand idly by while these gangsters walk our streets with impunity, take life without fear of being caught and have families and communities living in fear. The actions of those involved and these crimes are an affront to the spirit of the north inner city, our communities, families and all who inhabit this city who have had enough.

It is the Tánaiste's responsibility, as Minister for Justice and Equality, and that of Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan to ensure that safety and good order is achieved sooner rather than later. The violence must be brought to an end rapidly before any more lives are lost. The Tánaiste and Commissioner must dedicate all of the appropriate resources to dealing with the violent criminal gangs in our capital city. So far, they have been far too slow to respond to the fear that now exists in the community. People are terrified, which is unacceptable.

Garda numbers have been cut across the State and in the north inner city. Garda stations have been closed. Fitzgibbon Street Garda station has been closed since 2011. There have been severe cuts to community services and organisations which deal with young people at risk. Far from supporting the community, the Government is contributing to an environment in which this violence flourishes.

The Tánaiste must recruit and resource the Garda in the area as a matter of urgency. There must also be a whole-of-Government response and approach. Last year, I put it to the Tánaiste to establish a task force in the north inner city, with a multiagency approach which listens to the community and offers support and which has a long-term plan to find strategies and provide resources to make the community safe.

Sadly, the Government did not listen. The Government's response to the north inner city has been superficial and tokenistic and the violence and the suffering go on. People have had enough of promises and expressions of shock and horror from these benches. Is the Tánaiste now listening and will she now finally commit to resourcing a proper task force for the north inner city?

For 30 years our gardaí and Defence Forces sought to prevent people getting involved in shootings and terrorist activity across this country. They dedicated themselves to preventing those murders. Unfortunately and despite that effort, they were unable to prevent some murders. However, they certainly helped to maintain the peace and protect communities. Our gardaí are doing the very same now. I abhor and condemn the fatal shooting yesterday, the circumstances in which it took place and its callousness. Unfortunately, this is what our gardaí are confronted with, namely, criminal gangs which devastate communities by importing drugs and which are determined to murder one another.

There is no question of standing idly by. The Government has committed enormous resources to the north inner city and the armed response unit is working flat out, morning, noon and night, to keep people and communities safe. It has prevented a large number of planned killing. Unfortunately, it is the case that criminals continue to plan to murder one another as we see in this criminal situation with these gangs. I am absolutely committed to ensuring that gardaí will make every effort to bring the perpetrators to justice. I agree with the Deputy that anyone with information on this should bring it to the attention of An Garda Síochána.

For our part in government, we are determined that gardaí will continue to be properly resourced to deal with the many challenges they face, including the scourge of these violent gangs. We have shown that by the number of patrols across Dublin and the country, the recruitment of 900 extra gardaí this year and the provision of increased resources and supports for gardaí, including new vehicles. Every effort will be made and no resource will be spared to deal with this scourge. Gardaí have done this in Limerick before where people are serving and have served prison terms in relation to 24 out of 25 murders and I have no doubt they will be successful in dealing with the current threat from these gangs.

It is particularly disingenuous of Deputy McDonald to talk about the lack of resources going into the north inner city when this area was ignored for so many decades. She can see what the Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, have done in the last nine months to a year in the provision of new resources for schools, youth services, diversion projects and housing in that area. It is particularly disingenuous to fail to acknowledge the resources being provided. The Taoiseach spent half a day recently looking at these projects and it has been acknowledged by local councillors and others that the resources have been made available there.

Hear, hear.

I am aware that the Taoiseach was in the north inner city on Monday. Perhaps in the most grim way possible, the fact that there was a shooting on Wednesday actually serves to highlight the tokenistic and superficial approach of the Government over the last year.

That is a lie.

Pathetic.

So there is no misunderstanding, local people are well aware of that fact.

Local people are well aware of the good being done by the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe.

Can the Leas-Cheann Comhairle ask the Government benches to contain themselves?

The Tánaiste not the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, is delegated to take questions.

She is lying.

Far from a determined approach to tackle the issues, it seems the Government imagines people in the inner city will be happy with crumbs from the table, with a small bit of attention and with a few bob thrown here and there. That is not good enough. More importantly-----

What have you done for them? Deputy McDonald has done nothing for them in all the years she has been here.

Deputy Byrne.

Deputy McDonald is a disgrace.

She is wrong.

She is a disgrace, the Minister of State is right.

It is Deputy Mary Lou McDonald she is speaking about.

Please allow the Tánaiste to respond.

They have obstructed me in putting my-----

There is no injury time today.

Apart from it being an insult to the people of that part of Dublin, more to the point, it is not going to work.

I cannot allow the Deputy-----

The north inner city coalition has set out in great detail-----

Unless the Standing Orders are changed-----

It is very unfair that they can shout me down and that my time has been eaten up in that way.

As if the Deputy has never shouted anyone down.

I suppose that is the Blueshirts for you.

The Deputy was given some injury time.

It is very hard to listen to her. She sat at the public meetings and never opened her mouth. I was present at them.

I cannot allow the Minister of State to speak.

As usual, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald is dividing communities. She cannot acknowledge the positive initiatives that have been taken. There is the usual negativity and she cannot even acknowledge the huge initiative that has been taken in the north-east inner city.

There is a lot of lobbying today for ministerial positions.

In less than one year we have seen a huge number of short, medium and longer term measures and the community recognises this. When I attended meetings with the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, it acknowledged the importance of the initiatives that were under way and the investment being made. Unlike Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, it actually acknowledges that there is a long way to go. There were 30 years of under-investment.

By whom?

It will not be dealt with overnight.

Fine Gael has been in government.

Clearly, there is huge-----

Perhaps for a change Deputy Mary Lou McDonald should try to acknowledge some of the positive things that have happened.

What about Sinn Féin's responsibility in the North.

Does the Minister of State know where it is?

The Deputy is getting very tetchy. He might explode.

Please, Deputies. I know that we are off next week.

There is a lot of tension in Fine Gael this weather. It will all be over next week, folks - just relax.