THE Fianna Fail spokesman or justice claimed the Government parties were divided in their approach to the crime problem.
Mr John O'Donoghue said that Fine Gael deputies had been told by the chairman of their parliamentary party this week that Labour and Democratic Left refused to support proposals put forward by the Minister for Justice a year ago. If that was so was it any wonder, he asked, that there had been no referendum on bail?
The Minister for Finance had cancelled plans to build extra prison places at Mountjoy and Castlerea prisons while the Minister for Justice was out of the country. "The Minister for Justice was treated with political contempt", he said.
In their spending priorities some ministers put "their own glorification" ahead of tackling the crime problem. It was not surprising that so little progress had been made.
He was speaking on a motion introduced by the Minister for Justice to approve international conventions on mutual assistance in dealing with crime, drugs and money laundering.
Mrs Owen said the completion of the process of approving the conventions was long overdue. "I do wonder why Ministers for Justice before me didn't take the necessary action. Why was the convention on drugs, signed in 1989 by Ireland, left to one side by three Fianna Fail Ministers since that time? Perhaps they will tell me today."
The ratification of the conventions would give concrete expression to the Government's commitment to international Co-operation on criminal matters and enable Ireland to play its part in the international fight against crime, the Minister said. She also moved a motion to allow Irish courts to confiscate drug trafficking profits made abroad which are the subject of foreign court orders.
The Minister of State for Justice, Ms Joan Burton, said there was a tendency to look at money laundering and drugs problems only in relation to this State, but there was an international dimension. Approving these conventions would help to tackle that.
Ms Liz O'Donnell, Progressive Democrats' spokeswoman on justice, said that Dail debate this week had been quite properly dominated by the need for laws "which will put in place procedures and methods to fight fire with fire when it comes to organised crime."
Some people considered themselves above the law, confronting the State brazenly with arms and terror when people got in their way. "They care little for the civil liberties of law abiding citizens, yet they claim the protection provided by civil liberties and due process when they are caught or when they are being investigated. They rob banks and then launder the proceeds of that robbery through the same institution. They avail of tax amnesties provided by foolish governments."
There were difficulties in regard to Europol and the European drugs unit based in The Hague. There were difficulties too among European states regarding the scope of Europol. "These difficulties relate to rivalry and sovereignty matters and they must be ironed out. We need a single, computerised database on criminals in Europe."
Mr David Andrews (FF, Dun Laoghaire) said the Minister's "arrogant" remarks about previous Ministers were regrettable. Deputies from all parties should be prepared to "stand side by side" on the crime problem and show unity in the face of the drug barons and other gangsters.
Mr Joe Costello (Lab, Dublin Central) said the conventions should have been approved long ago, but at least they were beginning to get unity of purpose in dealing with the problem. The paramilitaries played a part in the "murky world" of money laundering and drug dealing through international contacts.
The other side of the drugs problem should not be forgotten - the treatment of victims and programmes of prevention.
Mr Ben Briscoe (FF, Dublin South Central) said he had been dubbed a fascist for demanding that drug dealers be locked up and put out of circulation. There were an estimated 800 dealers in Dublin doing 2,500 deals a day. People living in housing estates were at the end of their tether. A task force of gardai had been put into Dolphins Barn, but as soon as they left the drug dealers were on the streets again.
Building societies could play a part by refusing to accept money for laundering, and the media had a responsibility in reporting the demands for civil rights. "Murderers do not recognise the civil rights of other people. Why should we recognise theirs?" he asked.