A GOVERNMENT backbencher said he would support the introduction of internment in the fight against crime.

Niall Collins (FF, Limerick West) said he knew the late Shane Geoghegan personally and had played rugby with him.

He said he would back the introduction of internment where at all possible and workable.

"But if the Attorney General says that that type of situation is not workable or practicable, we have to be realistic about it."

Mr Collins questioned if those subject to a murder investigation should be entitled to the right to silence.

"These are the questions being posed to us out there on the street."

Mr Collins was speaking during the resumed debate on the Fine Gael private members' motion demanding Government action on crime following Mr Geoghegan's murder in Limerick.

A Government amendment, endorsing its policies, was carried.

Joe Costello (Labour, Dublin Central) called for support for the national drugs strategy team's programme whereby members of the public could use a freephone number.

"The public can use it securely, confidentially and anonymously to report information on drug dealing, threats and intimidation," said Mr Costello. "These will, in turn, be forwarded to the Garda and nationally monitored and acted on."

He said every sector of society must be informed and mobilised in the fight against drugs.

Tom Sheahan (FG, Kerry South) said prisons were academies of crime.

"St Patrick's Institution is being run as an institution of incarceration rather than education because of cutbacks."

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF, Dublin South Central) called for increased civilianisation of the Garda to free up fully-trained gardaí from behind desks to fight crime.

"More funding is needed to tackle the drugs crisis. More sniffer dogs are also required.

"Delays in the justice system, including the processing of Criminal Assets Bureau cases, need to be addressed, and Cab needs to focus on drug-related crime."