The Garda has advocated for quite some time for the electronic tagging of robbers, burglars and repeat criminals with long records of breaking the law on a continual basis, criminals with prison records and criminals who continue to break the law while out on bail. Many offences are carried out by criminals out on bail. Gardaí are requesting the Government to act on the introduction of electronic tagging without further delay, and I agree wholeheartedly with them. Tagging takes place in many countries. I would advocate electronic tagging and believe it should be introduced. It should be introduced and the tags should be on display to everybody.

Finally, I wish to dissociate myself from the personalised nature of comments from the Fine Gael press office about my two colleagues, Senators Crown and Quinn. They have been two of the most significant contributors to the Seanad since I joined the Chamber.

Hear, hear.

I condemn outright what happened in Athlone at the weekend, as have other Senators. A famous Deputy, whom Members in this House may have served with, said that such perpetrators should be hung and flogged. I agree with flogging but I would hang them from something else for an hour a day for 12 months. If that was done then people might not continue to commit these offences.