Update 11.30am: Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to meet the Garda Commissioner this evening and has said the government will not be “intimidated” by criminal gangs, writes Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter.
Mr Kenny has told the Dáil that the current escalation of gangland murder and crime is different to previous instances in Limerick and Dublin as there is now an “international aspect” where murders are ordered from abroad.
He said more cooperation will be needed between international police forces t4o tackle what he described as a “murderous feud”.
“It’s very distressing when I read of the lock-down of schools and the fear of parents that something is going to happen their children.
“Government are not going to be intimidated by this sort of murderous feud”.
He said a taskforce dealing with the local issue will be set up and there will be a national strategy to deal with drugs is to be developed.
However, Mr Kenny said that it would take time, more garda resources and funding to jail those responsible for the recent spate of murders.
“It took years to deal with the McCarthy-Dundons, it took years to deal with Gilligan, it took years to deal with The General,” Mr Kenny said.
“The State and the Government are not going to lie down in the face of this intimidation.”
The Taoiseach is due to meet the Garda Commission Noirin O’Sullivan at 7pm for an update on how gardaí are policing the area in Dublin’s north inner city.
Micheál Martin highlighted that this week’s killing had been the seventh murder in 100 days which shows “the degree of power that these gangs are wielding on our streets” despite extra garda resources being put in place in the area.
He said children as young as 13 and 14 are being recruited by gangs and “can earn a fortune” by selling prescription drugs on the streets.
Mr Kenny said legislation would be prepared around the illegal sale of prescription drugs.
Referring to the criminals as “parasites” who thrive on the “deprivation and desperation of communities” Labour leader Brendan Howlin said “crimes like this feuds like this don’t exist in a vacuum”.
Asking for specific details on how the Government intends to respond he said: “Words are not enough today”.
“This is not about any member of this House, it’s not about scoring points. It’s about a community under siege,” Mr Howlin told the Dáil.
Earlier: The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he has asked for a briefing with the Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan in the wake of the latest gangland shooting.
However, Kenny has said an international joint-policing operation is needed to properly tackle the latest wave of killings.
In the Dáil this morning the Taoiseach has said the latest killings were directed from overseas and Gardaí can not end the feud alone.
Kenny did say he would meet O’Sullivan this evening to discuss the resources available to Gardaí to play their part.
“I’ve asked the Minster of Justice and the Garda Commissioner with the Assistant Commissioner to come (meet me) this evening for a full security briefing at 7pm to deal with this issue and I’ll inform the House of the ongoing activity here,” said Kenny responding to a question from Fianna Fáil Micheál Martin.
“Believe me Deputy Martin, the State and Government are not going to lie down in the face of this intimidation.”
READ MORE: Donohoe: Govt will provide all resources needed to deal with ‘vicious cycle of murders’
