Vol. 428 No. 5
11 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Justice the extra arrangements, if any, she intends to put in place in order to ensure that visitors to this country, especially during the high tourist season are not subjected to robberies, physical attacks, car break-ins and other abuses; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I am of course concerned that visitors to this country should be subjected to criminal attacks. Tourists in any country may be vulnerable to attack, and indeed while in many countries the risks are far greater than they are here, this does not take from the abhorrence with which we view the problem or lessen our determination to prevent such attacks occurring. This country has a reputation for friendliness and a tradition of hospitality which is world renowned. It is unacceptable that a tiny minority of people should undermine the reputation of the Irish people by cowardly attacks on people they perceive as soft targets. I, therefore, fully support the Garda and the tourist interests in their efforts to ensure that tourists to this country are afforded as much protection as possible.
The Garda authorities and Bord Fáilte and other tourist interests have in recent years established a very close and effective system of liaison which ensures that all aspects of the problem of attacks on tourists are examined and co-ordinated and a programme of measures are drawn up annually to deal with the problem. A meeting to discuss the 1993 season has already taken place between the Garda authorities and Bord Fáilte.
The Garda measures include the deployment of additional Garda patrols, both uniformed and plainclothes, during the summer months to areas frequented by tourists and the provision and distribution of an information leaflet which contains practical advice on how visitors to this country can protect their property and personal belongings. In addition, all Garda patrols particularly those in areas of high tourist interest are encouraged to be alert to the problem and the topic is also covered extensively in Garda inservice training programmes. Gardaí are encouraged to avail themselves of language training courses to enable them to be of assistance to visitors and foreign language training courses are provided at the Garda Training College, Templemore. In addition, the Garda office in O'Connell Street serves as a centre for advising tourists to Dublin on preventative measures which they can take to safeguard themselves and their belongings.
I am aware that there have been calls from time to time for the speedier processing by the courts of cases involving tourists. This matter has been carefully considered and special provisions in this regard were included in the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992. These provisions allow a tourist who is the victim of a crime to make an immediate statement before a district judge. This statement may be used as evidence without the necessity for the victim to attend the subsequent trial. The Act also provides that the victim may give evidence from abroad by live television link.
I am confident that everything that can be done is being done to deal with this problem. The matter will however continue to be kept under review.
I welcome the positive tone of the Minister's reply. However, would she agree that Dublin is now becoming the black spot of Europe from the point of view of attacks on tourists? Is she aware that 75 per cent of crime against tourists are committed in the greater Dublin area and that the figures, for this year, I understand, would be in the region of 1,200? Will the Minister clarify the system of producing affidavits in court? As I understand it, affidavits are not permissible at the moment under Irish law and plaintiffs must be present to deliver their evidence viva voce. A major problem is the perpetration of crime by young offenders. Is the Minister aware that in many cases the offenders opt for trial by judge and jury and that it is about eight months before those cases are taken, by which time the victim will have lost interest in the case? Finally, could the court system be improved so that the offenders are brought to justice?
The question is over long.
Will the Minister also agree that many cases involve young offenders and that there is no place to put them?
I would not accept that Dublin is becoming one of the black spots in relation to attacks on tourists. Very many of us who have travelled abroad from time to time for holidays and other reasons have been the victims of crimes committed against us. It would be unfortunate if the relative minority of young people that the Deputy talks about who are responsible for these attacks on tourists were to damage Ireland's reputation as a welcoming, warm and friendly country. I know that Bord Fáilte works in very close collaboration with the Garda to ensure that every measure possible is put in place to prevent such attacks taking place.
In relation to the way in which we prosecute such people, the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992, was a huge step forward in that it allowed for the victim to make an immediate statement to a district judge which then could be used in the subsequent court case and also allowed for a live television link-up during the prosecution of such a case in court.
In relation to Dublin, the Garda station in O'Connell Street is very valuable for both the gardaí and tourists, most of whom come through O'Connell Street if they come to Dublin. They can avail of the opportunity to visit a Garda station and be advised by the gardaí in relation to difficulties that they, or any of us as tourists in any country in the world, might encounter from time to time.
The information being given out to tourists would seem to be ineffective. Could the Minister ensure that Aer Lingus and other carriers bringing people into this country provide information in different languages warning people of the dangers? In addition, in areas such as Christchurch Place and O'Connell Street, would the Minister consider introducing a tourist police force that tourists could easily identify if they do get into trouble?
It is important that members of the Garda dealing with tourists are those dealing with ordinary policing matters in any part of the country. I, therefore, would not support an élite tourist force in the city.
They could be part of the police force.
I will certainly make contact with Bord Fáilte to ask them to talk to Aer Lingus and the ferry companies with a view to ensuring that they provide the information of a very substantial nature which is provided by the Garda and by Bord Fáilte already.
This is not just a problem for tourists but for many locals in Dublin. I had the experience last night of having my windscreen broken while stopped at a traffic light at a spot where, I have since been given to understand, this is a regular occurrence. In the light of the Minister's response to the question, is she in a position to ensure that there are additional Garda patrols, given the discussion we had here on the Criminal Justice Bill when I quoted the Garda Review figures in relation to the number of gardaí? The Minister of State, Deputy O'Dea, said at the time that I was incorrect in quoting the Garda Review, which indicated that the numbers of gardaí had gone down over the past 20 years. Is it true that the numbers of gardaí have in fact gone down? If so, does the Minister intend to rectify this situation so that she will be in a position to have these additional Garda patrols which are necessary, particularly in the black spots that I mentioned?
The Deputy has raised some extraneous matter certainly worthy of other questions.
Two points arise in relation to the replies given by the Minister. It is all very well to make a deposition before a district justice. However, many of these cases depend on visual identification and that involves bringing the accuser into the presence of the other person. Would the Minister agree that that is a problem? In my experience, one of the tactics used by people convicted on a summary basis is to prolong the agony by appealing the case to the Circuit Court. Would the Minister agree that it is essential that there should be an almost immediate rehearing in the Circuit Court where a tourist is to be inconvenienced by being brought back?
Would the Minister indicate that, if there is to be some form of consultative process between her Department and the Judiciary in relation to sentencing, an intimation that severe sentencing in these cases is in the public interest?
Would the Minister agree that in areas where there is a considerable concentration of tourists, video surveillance is one of the possible ways of discouraging assaults? I am thinking of the major thoroughfares of this city where tourists are such easy prey to pickpockets and muggers?
On the last point, we already have video surveillance in operation in the greater Dublin area and it is certainly proving very effective. Visual identification is, of course, a problem, but I think Deputy McDowell would have to agree that the Criminal Evidence Act, 1992, was a major step forward. Perhaps it is something we need to look at. In relation to appeals to the Circuit Court, I would agree that if possible those hearings should take place almost immediately. There is a question on sentencing policy later on.
Let us not anticipate it.
In the light of the Minister's reply that surveillance equipment is in place, perhaps she could clarify that. I would ask the Minister to be very cautious in her discussions with Bord Fáilte and they, in turn, with Aer Lingus and the other carriers into Ireland. I would not like to give a false impression about the nature of the country which could be very damaging. One might think one was going into a war zone if one heard an announcement from the airline to be careful. I accept the points made by Deputy Deenihan but we do need to be careful.
In relation to video surveillance, camera equipment is in operation in certain parts of Dublin city for the identification of prospective criminals. That operation is fairly well known and has been very helpful to the Garda Síochána from time to time. I agree with Deputy Harney that any information to be given out to tourists coming into the country would have to be dealt with sensitively. I pay tribute to the efforts made by Bord Fáilte and the Garda Síochána to treat the issue sensitively. I have no doubt that the airlines and the ferry operators will be prepared to handle the matter in the same way.
