I am sure the Tánaiste is aware of the vicious and shocking attack on Tom Niland in Skreen, County Sligo, when his home was burgled last month. We all send our very best wishes to Tom, who remains critically ill in hospital. Many other burglaries and aggravated assaults never make the news. Many people have contacted me on this issue. For example, a man from Swinford alerted me to the fact that 200 homes were burgled and trashed in two months last year between Donegal and north Galway. As he said, there are a lot of devastated people. When one is a victim, a certain innocence is lost forever. I want the Tánaiste to act on two issues. First, will he look at revising the sentencing and bail guidelines, especially for repeat offenders? The second ask is in regard to an issue I have raised previously. Sligo-Leitrim is the only division in the north west and west without an armed support unit. We urgently need such a unit.

My thoughts are with Thomas Niland who was a victim of a horrific attack in his home. As there is an active Garda investigation under way, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment in detail on the specific case, but I believe I speak for all in the House in sincerely hoping he makes a full recovery. I join with the Garda in appealing for any person who noticed anything unusual in the wider N59 Skreen locality to contact An Garda Síochána with information.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister, Deputy McEntee launched the next phase of Garda recruitment today, continuing the increase in the strength of the Garda force and its resources. The issue of the armed support unit for Sligo is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, but as the Deputy has raised it here today, I will raise it with the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I agree that we need to look at the bail issue again. We passed a referendum in Ireland 20 years ago to tighten our bail laws. For whatever reason, that has not happened in practice. We need to examine that again.