Seanad report:Gangland shootings were connected with the fact that children could not be looked after properly, Margaret Cox (FF) said.
Speaking in the debate on the Social Welfare Bill she said it was marvellous that we were going to have 26 weeks paid maternity benefit. "Now that we had crossed that hurdle, the challenge was to say that we would deal with parental leave. We could start by making a universal payment of four weeks to one or other parent. If we loved our children and believed in looking after our society and moving away from the problems confronting us, we should take this step.
"Where do you think it's coming from at the moment, these gangland shootings? It's coming from the fact that we are not in a position to look after our children properly. We are allowing children, particularly, in disadvantaged areas, and all through the country, not to have the opportunity and the care and the nurturing of parents' time, be it the mom or the dad."
A Government member acknowledged that the crime situation had become a crisis. Cyprian Brady (FF) said he had suggested that an examination be carried out as to how the Army could assist gardaí in combating gangland crime. The Army was there to provide support and the present state of affairs required that we had to look at what was happening in a different way, added Mr Brady.
Jim Walsh (FF) said part of the problem in the fight against organised crime was that the evidential bar had been set so high. He believed that the time had come where they should reflect in legislation some of the measures that had been introduced after the Omagh bombing, where a Garda superintendent's evidence could be taken into account in pinpointing serious criminals.
Michael Finucane, acting Fine Gael leader in the House, said the Minister for Justice had stated that according to the Constitution, the present situation did not amount to an emergency. "Let us not play with semantics. It's a national emergency, as far as ordinary people are concerned."
Joe O'Toole (Ind) said the concerns of members about the non-imposition of mandatory sentences could be remedied by the removal in legislation of the discretionary provisions available to judges.
Mary White (FF) clashed repeatedly with the Chair when she sought to raise the working conditions of TDs and Senators, claiming that the Oireachtas was "a man's club" and was not family friendly.
Ms White was speaking on the Bill to provide renewed funding for the commission which administers the running of the Houses.
Following her initial expression of criticism Joe O'Toole (Ind) a member of the commission, protested that it had no control in the area to which Mr White had referred.
Ms White said she came to the House at 7.30am each morning, but was unable to get a cup of tea as one could get in any self-respecting parliament in Europe.
Called to order on several occasions by Cathaoirleach Rory Kiely, Ms White said: "I want to put on the record here for Christmas 2006 that this is not a family-friendly Oireachtas. It's geared towards men's lives, late sittings and late morning starting."