Not enough garda patrols on streets, warns O'Dea

Top Garda management was not putting enough patrols on the streets, the Minister of State for Justice, Mr Willie O'Dea, complained last night.

The Garda Bill, which will be passed by the Oireachtas shortly, will enable the Government to push for change: "You will see a big improvement," he said.

A database of DNA samples from criminals could be set up shortly, following the publication of a report from the Law Reform Commission, Mr O'Dea said.

Replying to Cllr Gerry Horgan, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, the Minister of State said the Constitution posed difficulties for setting up such a database.

The conviction of a rapist in Britain this week showed the value of such records: "The police believe they would have caught him a year earlier if the records had existed there in time."

Dublin West delegate, Mr Michael Rohan, urged the Government to tighten the State's citizenship laws to ensure they are not "abused" by asylum-seekers.

Pointing out that 1,500 foreign couples have been told to leave, even though they have Irish-born children, Mr O'Dea said the existing legislation was operating well.

He raised the possibility that a referendum could take place to restrict the automatic citizenship offered to all those born here, if agreement with the Opposition can be reached.

Mr O'Dea said planning permission for public buildings will not be given in future unless the disabled are given access: "Disabled people can no longer be ignored."