A Fine Gael forum on street crime yesterday sought the views of community workers, transport organisations and publicans.
Three TDs, Mr Alan Shatter, Ms Frances Fitzgerald and Mr Simon Coveney, co-chaired the session, which heard from two mothers whose sons were recently attacked on Dublin streets.
The Garda was invited to participate but a spokesman for the force said it would be inappropriate to attend.
Dr Mary Jennings said her son sustained a broken nose and teeth in an attack by six people while walking a short distance home from a friend's house. "Assault is too refined a word for what happened," she said. "It was attempted murder. There should be mandatory jailing for the people who inflict injuries to the head and face. I was lucky - my son came home." Ms Susan Slott, an actress in Glenroe, said a man attacked her son in Rathmines, punching him to the ground and kicking him repeatedly in the head. "I didn't recognise my son," she said. "He was covered in blood and his teeth were missing. But what most shocked me was speaking to young people afterwards and that there seems to be a tacit acceptance among them that some day they will be attacked."
Dr Mick Molloy said treating injuries from street violence was placing hospital casualty departments under strain. He said increasing cases of injuries to the head were being admitted.
Ms Lillian McGovern of Victim Support said 14 families she has visited recently after a member suffered a street attack had not reported the matter to the gardai due to fear of retaliation and a lack of confidence that gardai would follow up the case.
Mr Brian Sheen of Gay/HIV Strategies highlighted ongoing attacks against members of the gay community. "If some people think walking down the street with your partner is motivation - it's not," he said.
Mr Robbie Fox of the Dublin Nightclub Association said the problem was caused by large numbers of people pouring on to the streets at the same time and claimed the Government had recently missed an opportunity to introduce legislation allowing clubs to open for longer hours.
Mr Joe Heron of the Irish Taxi Drivers' Federation said there was not a shortage of taxis but that gardai needed to be more visible on the streets. There appeared to be no resolve by the authorities to stamp out an escalating problem.
Mr Colm Jordan of the Union of Students in Ireland said the main problem was the lack of late-night transport for young people.
Ms Rabia-A Najjair of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland said she had had eggs and stones thrown at her and said her children also faced difficulties. She said primary schoolchildren should be educated against racism.