John Stafford
Question:67 Mr. Stafford asked the Minister for Justice if he will undertake a comprehensive survey on attitudes to crime.
Written Answers. - Attitudes to Crime.
I believe that it is extremely important that I, as Minister for Justice, am in tune with how the public have been affected by and view the crime problem. For this reason since coming into office I have adopted as far as possible an open door policy in terms of listening to and responding to the community's concern about and attitudes to crime.
I have availed of various opportunities to involve myself in forums of public debate on crime-related issues. In March of this year I appeared on the "Late Late Show" which was devoted to the crime problem, so that I could hear at first hand people's experiences of and attitudes to crime. More recently I hosted a Safety for Women Conference which was held in Dublin Castle and at which there was a very wide representation of interested parties. In addition, in the wake of the disturbing incidents of violence which occurred in O'Connell Street recently I visited the area in the company of the Assistant Commissioner for the Dublin Metropolitan Area in order to see the situation for myself.
I am, therefore, very much aware of the public attitude to crime and while I appreciate that there may indeed be a value in more academically based and structured surveys, my priority at present is to use all available resources on more practical and effective measures to prevent and detect crime. I will however keep the matter under review.