asked the Minister for Justice if there has been an increase in the number of reported offences of assault against women in the past year; and if it is proposed to amend the law in any way so as to afford the greatest possible protection to women.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Assaults on Women.
11.
Assaults on women, other than sexual assaults, are not listed as a separate category in the crime statistics compiled by the Garda Síochána and a special country-wide examination of records over the past two years would be needed to extract the information asked for. I do not think that the value of the information sought would justify the work that would be involved in obtaining it.
In so far as offences of sexual assault on women are concerned, the position is that in the period 1st January to 13th October, 1976, there has been a decrease of almost 16 per cent in the number of such offences as compared with the corresponding period in 1975, the figures being 95 and 113, respectively.
I have no reason to believe that existing legislation does not afford adequate protection to women in this regard and I have no proposals to amend it but I shall consider any proposals that might be put forward.