Limerick Chamber of Commerce believes the aspiration of zero tolerance has been "long since forgotten" in the city.
The chamber president, Mr Tom McInerney, yesterday raised the issue of "the totally unacceptable increase in lawlessness and bad social behaviour occurring on the streets of our cities and towns, particularly at weekends.
"There is no political or public voice of leadership raised in this regard. Nothing is being done or seen to be done and the aspiration of zero tolerance is long since forgotten," he said.
At a recent meeting with the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, and the Minister of State, Mr Willie O'Dea, a chamber delegation pointed out that there were two assistant Garda commissioners in Cork, one in Galway and none in Limerick. Limerick had three chief superintendents appointed in rotation in the past few years.
"This does not instil confidence in the public mind as to a consistency in crime policy and implementation. In remuneration, training, modern methodology and services, the Garda Síochána as a body fell far below the service standards of their UK and European counterparts," a chamber statement claimed.
Its principal concern was "the apparent foot-dragging" in the installation and operation of a CCTV system in Limerick, which was announced by the Minister in 1998. The private sector in the city was spending over €4 million a year on security systems, manpower and maintenance and was being exploited as a go-it-alone operation, the chamber submitted.
It called for a crime hotline to be introduced, and a police community box to be installed in the city centre.
Responding to suggestions and with regard to CCTV, the Minister said the Limerick project contract was now being awarded and funding and resources were in place for its operation and maintenance. He was confident it would be in operation by the end of the year.
He said he would examine the case for assistant commissioner status for Limerick, and hoped to respond positively on the proposed crime hotline and police box initiative.