I reiterate my sympathy to the family, friends and Garda colleagues of the late Garda Tony Golden. The scene last Thursday in my local parish church was one of devastation and immense grief that another member of an Garda Síochána had been gunned down in a cold-blooded murder. When I visited the family last week, the late Tony Golden's wife and mother-in-law pleaded with me to ensure something was done to ensure our laws on bail for people who had been convicted of serious crime, as in the case of the person who carried out this murder, were changed.

We must ensure the Border is adequately manned and patrolled. I welcome the announcement that 27 additional gardaí are to be deployed to the Dundalk district, but I hope this will be a permanent resource, not only a token six-week presence, as happened following the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. We need to wake up. It was devastating, not only for people in the locality or members of An Garda Síochána, to whom my heart goes out but people generally that we were faced with the murder of another garda less than two years after the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. I, too, would welcome a debate on activity in the North of Ireland. While we have previously had such debates, there are now more serious allegations to be discussed, as highlighted in the reports published yesterday. I agree with Senators that we all have a lot more to say on this issue.

I also pay tribute to the people of Blackrock and Haggardstown who came together from last Sunday and have showed what true community spirit is. It was unbelievable to see people, some of whom knew the Golden family, while others did not, coming together and doing whatever they could to help, including making tea, providing refreshments, directing traffic and so on. It was a proud moment, if one could take anything at all from it. I hope that in the long term it will be a source of comfort to the family. Blackrock is renowned for the fact that the tide comes in very seldom. Last week, even the sea was silent and the atmosphere in Blackrock was reflected in the heavens.