asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) that gardaí and youths clashed for the third night in succession in the Ranelagh/Rathmines area, Dublin; and what action he intends to take to protect persons and property in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin City Rowdyism.
35.
I have seen the report referred to. As is to be inferred from the question itself, the Garda are dealing with incidents of disorder in the area. The measures to be taken are a matter for them.
Is the Minister aware of the public anxiety and concern at the violence in the city of Dublin at present, at the amount of gang warfare, and that there are not sufficient gardaí in the city to patrol the streets and to protect the people from those gangs?
I think that would be a considerable exaggeration of the position. I understand that responsible opinion in the area concerned is that the kind of publicity which was given to the incidents in the first place was exaggerated and was itself a substantial contributory cause of the repetition of the disorder which took place. It appears that the matter is now closed and that the area is quiet.
Would the Minister not agree that these people are a product of the terrible environment in which they live, the environment of Mount Pleasant Buildings and Hollyfield Buildings, and does it not seem that the problem might be solved by demolishing these places? The Minister no doubt has been in these places.
I would not deny the possibility of the environment contributing to some of the difficulties but I never have accepted the theory that all of this kind of activity can be blamed on one's environment.
The Minister would need to visit the place and he would realise what the environment is like.
I know the place.