asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of robberies reported to police in Dublin since 1st January, 1971, (b) the number of cases of intimidation in the same period, (c) the number of cases of assault in this period, (d) the number of persons charged under each heading, (e) the number of convictions under each heading and (f) the number who were given the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act or who were given suspensory sentences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Crime Statistics.
91.
Detailed statistics in relation to crimes are given in the annual reports of the Commissioner of the Garda Síochána on crime, which are published and copies of which are available in the Library. The latest report to have been published covers the year ending 30th September, 1970. The next report will be published in the spring or early summer of next year.
In so far as the question relates to robberies, the Deputy might be interested in the information I gave on 4th November last in answer to four Parliamentary questions on the subject.
Is the Minister aware that in Dublin the elderly, the frail and the law-abiding people are being attacked by young thugs? They are being robbed by those people.
The Deputy is enlarging the question.
They are afraid to leave their homes and the judiciary are not dealing with those thugs.
This is enlarging the question. I am calling Question No. 92.
The words I used were employed by Deputy Flanagan, Minister for Lands, speaking at a meeting last Monday week. We are entitled to ask what the Minister is doing about those people.
The Deputy asked for statistics.
In the last part of my question I asked what the Minister intended to do in regard to these people. That reply has been omitted. I asked for more than statistics.
The Deputy is out of order.
My information was that I could ask for this information on a supplementary question. We are entitled to ask what the Minister intends to do about the robberies and the drift to anarchy here in Dublin at the present time.
That is a separate question. It is not in the question asked.
On numerous occasions I have dealt fully with this matter and I have pointed out that the Garda are in the process of being increased by 400 men, that gardaí are being taken off non-police duties, that the present strength of the force in Dublin is just a few short of 2,400 which is well over one-third of the whole strength of the force. It is the largest number and the largest proportion of the force that has ever been stationed in Dublin. A new communications centre is in the process of being built in Dublin and considerable additional transport and communication equipment is being provided for the gardaí in Dublin.
Is the Minister not aware when the gardaí go to the trouble of arresting those people and bring them to court that the judiciary have allowed them out scot free? One of the Minister's colleagues castigated the judges last week.
The Deputy is out of order in pursuing that line.
I certainly am not. I am entitled to know what the Minister intends to do to help the Garda when they do their duty. Why allow the judiciary to let those people off scot free?
The Deputy is well aware that I have no responsibility for decisions of the judiciary. Privately I may not agree with individual decisions of the Judiciary but unfortunately I cannot express any criticism and I think it would be a very retrograde step to do so.
I am delighted the Minister said what he has just said.
When the Minister for Lands spoke on this matter recently was he speaking on behalf of the Government?
That is a separate question and does not arise.