Madam, – I understand that the job of the Opposition is to oppose. A properly functioning democracy requires robust debate. However, there comes a point where talking just doesn’t cut it any more.
The publication of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill this week (“Gangs Bill disproportionate and unnecessary”, July 1st) perfectly demonstrates how opposition parties tend to be more interested in words than actions.
Instead of supporting this groundbreaking Bill that will go a long way to targeting crime gangs, Fine Gael and Labour have accused the Minister for Justice of “rushing” it through the Dáil.
Following the deaths of Shane Geoghegan and more recently, Roy Collins, the Opposition got firmly behind calls from the public for tougher measures to tackle crime.
Now that the Government has heeded these demands, Fine Gael and Labour are trying to stall progress in this area.
Objecting for the sake of objecting will not do anyone any favours, least of all the families in Dublin and Limerick terrorised by gangs who have no regard whatsoever for the law.
I hope that the Opposition will see sense and assist in passing this much needed piece of legislation. – Yours, etc,