asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the disturbances which occurred at the Barry House Pub in Finglas, Dublin 11, on Saturday night last, and the contingency plans which are being made to deal effectively with similar disturbances in the future and where possible to prevent them.
Private Notice Questions. - Finglas (Dublin) Incident.
Limerick East): I have received a preliminary report from the Garda authorities on this matter. I am informed that around midnight on Saturday night last the Garda were notified of a disturbance outside a licensed premises in Finglas. On arrival at the scene, the members discovered that the exits from the premises were obstructed by three burning vehicles. There was no evidence of any other disturbance at this time. The fires were extinguished by the fire brigade. In the disturbances which had taken place before gardaí arrived, three persons were injured. As charges are expected to be preferred in connection with the incidents in question, it would not be appropriate for me to make a detailed statement. I can assure the House that the Garda will take whatever steps are practicable to ensure that there will be no recurrence of such incidents.
Has the Minister satisfied himself that the incident did not involve racketeering or protection, or, indeed, drug pushing? Secondly, is the Minister satisfied that the Garda have the men, equipment and communication facilities to deal speedily and effectively with such a serious incident? I had intended asking a third question, but it has been answered by the Minister in so far as he has said that some people have been identified and charges are pending.
(Limerick East): As I informed the House, I have received a preliminary report from the Garda authorities on the matter. I have no evidence of the matters which Deputy Woods has raised of racketeering, or drug-connected incidents. If the Deputy has information to that effect and is not simply bringing in the kind of red herring he has brought in previously——
That is argumentative.
(Limerick East):——I am sure the Garda would be very happy to have that information. I am satisfied that the Garda were fully equipped and are able to respond to situations like this.
I must ask the Minister for a reply. The "red herring" which I brought in previously has been substantiated by the courts and if it were not for the intervention which I made at that time it might not have been possible to bring those criminals to justice. That point has been made very clear. The Minister should withdraw that remark.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
It is quite inappropriate in the present circumstances. I only asked if he had satisfied himself that these matters were not involved and that is a serious question.
I take it that the Minister is not anxious to respond to the question put to him.
A question, please, from Deputy Tunney.
I was giving the Minister time, in case he wanted to be gracious to the House. Would the Minister indicate whether or not any gardaí were patrolling that area on the night in question?
(Limerick East): As I said, I have received a preliminary report from the Garda authorities. I have given the information which I can give, in the circumstances of the intention to charge people in connection with incidents. I cannot go beyond that.
From the preliminary report which the Minister received, notwithstanding that this is an area where the adequacy of Garda patrolling has been questioned, is he not in a position to indicate whether there were any gardaí in the area prior to their getting notification of the fact that there was trouble there?
(Limerick East): I understand that there is adequate patrolling in all areas of Dublin. When this incident was brought to the notice of the Garda they responded very quickly indeed.
Would the Minister say who brought the incident to the notice of the Garda?
(Limerick East): I have not that information in my brief.
Would the Minister say in respect of the people charged — and again I appreciate the delicacy of the matter — if they are from the area, or are they people who were visiting the area?
(Limerick East): I am sorry. I did not say that people were charged. I said that charges are expected to be preferred in connection with the incident.
Would the Minister indicate whether or not the report indicates that the people who may have been guilty of these offences were local or were from another area?
(Limerick East): I am not prepared at this stage to go beyond what I have said in my reply, as charges are being preferred.
As the Minister did not answer my question, could I ask him to withdraw the unfounded allegation which he made here this afternoon? In the event of his not doing so, I want the House to note that the Minister has misrepresented the position and has been guilty of behaviour unbecoming of a Minister.
(Limerick East): I made no allegation whatsoever.
The Minister did.
(Limerick East): If the Deputy has information that was a connection between this incident and anything to do with drugs or racketeering, he should say so. However, if it is simply to put the question in a more emotive context which will give him added publicity, then he should not make that kind of remark.
That is misrepresentation.
Deputy Gene Fitzgerald has been given permission to put a Private Notice Question.