Last Friday, the community in Finglas came together for Grace Lynch's funeral, to mourn her, to remember her, to stand by her devastated family, and to say clearly that the days of their neighbourhood being terrorised are over. It is hard to describe the convulsion of grief in Finglas that day - a family utterly bereft and the sobs of young people.
Finglas is just one of the communities that have been terrified, harassed and intimidated for years now by those using scramblers for antisocial behaviour and criminal activity. Finglas is just one of the neighbourhoods that have, literally, been terrorised by people on scramblers threatening residents and feeling they could do what they want when they want. Stories of gardaí being taunted by hoods on scramblers are all too common. It happens because they know that the gardaí have their hands tied behind their backs, powerless to stop and apprehend scramblers even as they pose such a threat and danger to people.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in government have failed to act, failed to get a grip on what was a very evident and worsening problem for our communities across Dublin and beyond. It is unforgivable that it took the death of Grace Lynch for the Government to sign the regulation to give the Garda the power to get scramblers off our streets and out of our communities. In fact, it sat there gathering dust for more than two years, even as communities continued to endure the scourge of scramblers. The Tánaiste himself has admitted that he cannot give a satisfactory explanation as to why this happened. I wonder whether the Taoiseach can.
I really hope the new regulation brought to Cabinet today will be some small comfort to Grace's heartbroken parents and to her community. I sincerely hope that today genuinely marks the start of the change that is so desperately required. I hope this is the start of the Government getting its act together and really taking the fight to those who are using scramblers to make life a misery for so many. However, law and regulations on their own will mean nothing if they are not backed up by enforcement. It is all well and good having laws and regulations and making promises, but if gardaí on the ground do not have the tools they need to get the job done, then we are at nothing. Speaking this morning, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, was very unclear as to how all of this would be enforced. He was unable to answer or clarify even the most basic of matters. He was unable to articulate what difference these laws and regulations will make.
We need this clarity now from the Taoiseach today on the floor of the Dáil.
Will he specifically outline what additional resources, equipment and specialist training the Garda will be given to enforce the law and get these scramblers off our streets? Will he specifically answer what new powers the Garda will be given to successfully pursue and apprehend scramblers? What new power will the Garda have to seize and destroy scramblers? When will the urgently needed code of practice be in place to allow the Garda to use drones in the fight against scramblers? The public and communities need answers. A law without enforcement and resources will not work. We know the real test of these laws will not be found in announcements and promises but in the difference they make on our streets, in our communities and in the lives of those who have been plagued by scramblers.
