asked the Minister for Justice whether any prosecutions have followed the serious and bestial assault on a 15 year old girl in the Glasnevin area, Dublin on Sunday, 21st May, 1972.
87.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Crimes.
86.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of a report (details supplied) describing inter alia the destruction of neary 30 parked cars and other acts of vandalism; and if any prosecutions have been taken.
88.
asked the Minister for Justice whether any prosecutions have been forthcoming following wanton acts of vandalism resulting in serious damage to 30 cars on Merchants' Quay, Dublin, on 22nd May last.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 87 and 88 together.
As I have repeatedly informed the House, I cannot undertake to make statements about individual cases that are under investigation by the Garda Síochána. The objections to my doing so apply with even greater force to questions based on newspaper reports, replies to which would involve me in commenting on the accuracy of these reports about identifiable cases.
The institution of criminal proceedings is a matter for the Garda Síochána, acting where necessary in consultation with or on the directions of the law officers, and I have no responsibility in the matter.
Is the Minister aware of the bad effects that those thugs and bandits in the city of Dublin are having on tourists? Is the Minister aware of the skinheads who go around in groups and who are guilty of acts of brutality to passers-by, many of them tourists; that they are snatching handbags and adopting jeering and menacing attitudes to persons in O'Connell Street, at the top of Grafton Street and in the Green, that some of them use Alsatian dogs and that they have umbrellas with sharp points? The time has come when the Minister should protect the people of this city and visitors to our capital city. Does the Minister not agree that it is a disgrace that tourists are being menaced and frightened by these bandits?
I think, Sir, the Garda are doing all in their power, within the resources available to them, to combat crime of all types.
The Minister says they are doing all in their power within the resources available to them. It is his duty as Minister for Justice to give them more help or to allow them to spend more time on overtime. It is his duty to protect the lives and property of the people of this city.
I am well aware of what my duty is and I have increased and am increasing the numbers of the Garda Síochána so that towards the end of this year the force will be at its highest ever strength. I have vastly increased the resources at their disposal, particularly in the way of transport and in the way of radio communications. The number of cars which will be available to the Garda in the course of this year will show a big increase on that in 1970.
Will the Minister not admit that law and order has broken down under Fianna Fáil——
Question No. 89.
Is the Minister not fully aware that he has been making those promises of increased resources, transport and equipment for the Garda for the last two years?
I have implemented them successfully. They are not promises. They are implemented facts.
Specifically arising out of Deputy L'Estrange's question, will the Minister make foot patrols available in the areas mentioned?
There are foot patrols there at the moment. It is entirely a matter for the Commissioner and for his officers to say what type of strategy the Garda should follow in trying to put down this activity.
Could the Minister tell us if, in fact, any direction has been given to the superintendents about controlling or cutting down the amount of overtime?
That is a separate question.
There is no such directive.
Is the Minister satisfied with what is taking place in our courts and with the number of convictions over the past two or three years? Why did it take so long to take action? Will he not now admit that it was over two years ago that he should have taken action? If the Minister does not answer, he is admitting by implication that I am right.