Vol. 435 No. 2
11 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade if, in view of the recurring problem of crime against tourists, he will hold discussions with tourism interests in Dublin regarding the possible introduction of a scheme similar to the Amsterdam Tourist Assistance Service to aid and counsel victims of such attacks.
13 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on recent articles in the international news media about muggings in Dublin; the steps, if any, he intends to take to combat any adverse publicity resulting from these articles; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
24 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on recent articles in the international news media about muggings in Dublin; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to combat any adverse publicity resulting from these articles; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
39 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on recent articles in the international news media about muggings in Dublin; and the steps, if any, he intends to take to combat any adverse publicity resulting from these articles; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 13, 24 and 39 together.
At the outset I should explain that my colleague, the Minister for Justice, has primary responsibility for addressing the problem of crime, including tourist-related crime. As Minister with responsibility for tourism I am, of course, very concerned about the level of criminal activity directed at tourists, particularly in the Dublin area. However, it must be emphasised that this problem is not unique to Ireland as the situation in other European and US cities frequented by tourists is often much greater.
Overall the number of crimes involving tourists is small in the context of the 1.4 million overseas visitors to Dublin, but they nonetheless attract the attention of the media at home and internationally. In contrast, however, to the considerable attention which has been devoted to the problem in the Irish media, I understand that international media coverage has been more restrained. Any adverse publicity of this kind, however, is unfortunate, and particularly at a time when Dublin is enjoying great success as a short-break holiday destination in the British and mainland European markets.
In this regard I am pleased to inform the House that a much greater level of favourable publicity by far is being given to the tourist attractions of Dublin and Ireland generally in the international media. This year Bord Fáilte, in co-operation with the carriers and the tourism industry, has welcomed over 900 press, radio and television journalists to Ireland from North America, mainland Europe, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. This is a record number of journalists invited to report on the attractions of Ireland as a holiday destination and yields very positive media coverage.
As regards the possible introduction of a scheme similar to the Amsterdam Tourist Assistance Service, the Minister for Justice is at present considering the establishment of such a service here, but its extent and precise role will have to be carefully worked out between the various Government Departments and agencies involved. On the basis that the scheme in Amsterdam is said to be very successful in providing practical and psychological assistance to the victims of tourist related crime, I am favourably disposed to the concept of a similar service here.
I agree with the Minister that Dublin is not the only major city which has been afflicted by the crime wave. Does the Minister agree that Ireland's image has taken a battering in recent years? Does he not consider that a scheme similar to the one in operation in Amsterdam could go a long way to removing the jaundiced view of Ireland many tourists are left with as a result of the absence of any aftercare system for the victims of crime in this city? Is the Minister aware that the scheme operated by the Amsterdam authorities is relatively inexpensive? Would his Department support the implementation of a similar scheme here in any discussions with the Department of Justice?
The answer to the Deputy's last question is yes. Earlier this year the Irish Association of Victim Support approached the Minister for Justice, the Garda Commissioner and other bodies with a view to setting up here a service similar to the one operated in Amsterdam. Both my Department and Bord Fáilte are very supportive of such a proposal. In order to show her interest in the matter the Minister for Justice has agreed to address a seminar being held next Wednesday, 3 November, by the Irish Association of Victim Support which will be attended by a representative of the Amsterdam Tourist Assistance Service. Consideration is being given in the Department of Justice to setting up here a service similar to the one operated in Amsterdam. The Deputy can take it that both the Minister for Justice and I are very supportive of such a service. As I said in my initial reply, various matters will have to be taken into consideration. The Minister for Justice will be in a position to give her views on such a service to the House in the near future.
It should be remembered that the level of crime against tourists in Dublin is not the worst in Europe. Nevertheless, any attack on tourists is not helpful in terms of achieving the targets I have set myself in the tourism area. Ideally, we would not like to see any attacks on tourists. Earlier this year I convened a meeting of the various tourist bodies in Dublin to discuss ways of assisting tourists who have been attacked. It must be remembered that thugs and criminals will not merely stop attacking tourists — they will attack anyone they think has money. We must assist people by way of preventing them from wandering into areas of the city where crime is more endemic than in other areas. We have brought forward ideas in that regard. We have produced take care and information leaflets and there will be better signposting next year in order to help ensure that people go only to areas of the city which are regarded as safe for tourists. The Garda and the Department of Justice have cooperated in this regard and, as Minister for Tourism and Trade, I am very conscious of the need to sell Ireland as a place to visit and enjoy without being mugged.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): Would the Minister accept that it is little consolation to a tourist to know that he will require only three stitches following an attack in Dublin as opposed to requiring perhaps six stitches in Amsterdam or elsewhere and that such publicity will reflect badly on us? We are dealing with a situation where the residents of Dublin can be waylaid by people jumping out of cars and snatching their handbags. I would ask the Minister to take a stronger line than saying that we are better off than certain other countries. Would the Minister accept also that tourism around the country is being adversely affected because of the publicity that has been given to Dublin and that perhaps an advertising campaign highlighting the peace and tranquility of rural Ireland might help to attract the tourists who are afraid to come here because of the problems in Dublin?
I agree with the Deputy, it is particularly tranquil in Carlow and Kildare and we would certainly encourage tourists to visit those two counties. However, the problem is not simply confined to Dublin, but the Garda and the Department of Justice have done everything within their power during the summer months to alleviate the distress caused to tourists. I am primarily interested in crime as it relates to tourists because it projects a bad image of Ireland. We have taken some measures and will take further measures for next year to address the problem, but it is not confined to tourists. Recently, a rat was thrown into the car of a friend of mine who was travelling to Dublin with the roof window open. Naturally she got out of the car quickly and then her handbag was stolen. That is the type of crime that is taking place in our city.
Would the Minister agree that there is a major threat to tourists in particular because they are less capable of taking care of themselves in a foreign urban environment? They are not as streetwise and are less capable of responding to crime than some people who live in the city.
Second, would the Minister agree that what is needed now is for the Garda to take the problem of interfering with tourists' cars more seriously? Would they take a leaf from what happens in England, that is, that cars are put in places where they are likely to be stolen, they are staked out with a view to apprehending those who interfere with them, thus making an example of these people when they are brought before the courts. That is the only way this crime will be stopped. The Garda might put some creativity into staking out particular tourist cars or mobile homes with a view to achieving a similar result. When there was an increase in the unauthorised taking of cars five years ago, the penalties were increased and the activity curtailed dramatically. I suggest that if the Garda put more of an effort into apprehending these culprits and made an example of them, people would think twice about interfering with a tourist's car.
Operational matters such as those would be the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner and the Garda authorities and I am sure they would be willing to consider such ideas.
They are not, in fact.
It is a matter which I can take up with my colleague, the Minister for Justice, but the primary responsibility for this would rest with the Garda Commissioner. My Department and Bord Fáilte have undertaken measures to assist tourists in 1993. Hopefully, we will have better signposting in Dublin city as well as various other measures which should alleviate the problem somewhat. This type of crime gives the country a bad name. However, we are fortunate that the international media coverage of crime in Dublin as it affects tourists was not as prominent as the media coverage here. I am not blaming the media here for highlighting this problem, but we are fortunate that it was not carried in the international papers and that it was not a constraining factor in the 1993 season at any rate.
In regard to what the Minister said about confining tourists to certain areas, if one brings that to its logical conclusion we will not allow them to leave Jurys Hotel other than for perhaps a trip around Croke Park. Can I put it to the Minister that the thugs who are involved in this type of crime are well known to the Garda? Do the Garda have the necessary manpower to apprehend these people? I understand that this crime has become very specialised in Dublin and I hope the Garda have the necessary resources made available to them to put an end to this activity.
We are now straying into the area of responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Justice. The whole problem of crime, both in the capital city and the country at large, is very serious. Since coming into office the Minister for Justice has brought forward various proposals to try to alleviate this problem. Apart from unemployment, I believe crime is the most talked about topic of conversion in most people's homes and I am very much aware that it is an increasing problem. However, the Minister for Justice and the Garda are doing their best in this regard.
I am glad that the Minister has at least recognised that there is a problem. I raised this question a few months ago and I was more or less accused of scaremongering. Would the Minister agree that it is rather alarming that approximately 2,300 of these crimes are committed in Dublin with 600 being committed in the rest of the country?
Therefore, the problem would appear to be confined to Dublin and the greater Dublin area. Also, some Garda sources have indicated that there is an organised group in existence who pursue tourists because, as Deputy McDowell has said, they are soft targets. We should be doing more to warn people on entering the country because this information does not appear to be getting to them. For example, when a survey was carried out in O'Connell Street last year no information was available in the tourist office there warning tourists of any impending dangers in the city. Because this would appear to be a Dublin problem and because Dublin is so important to the rest of the country, we should be doing more in Dublin to address the problem. Finally, whereas conviction rates are generally high, detention rates are low because there are no prison places available for these criminals.
I pointed out earlier in my reply that 1.4 million visitors come to Dublin and, therefore, statistically most tourist directed attacks occur in Dublin. We have taken measures in the past year to make tourists more aware of the problem of crime. We have take care messages in Bord Fáilte's main promotional brochures, we have a take care leaflet in four languages published by Dublin Tourism which is circulated widely to tourist offices, hotels and bed and breakfast premises. We have take care leaflets published by the Garda and distributed by patrols and community relations officers. We have take care messages in on-board and in-flight magazines in Irish Ferries and Aer Lingus. Tour guides and coach companies warn their passengers about the dangers of crime. Various other measures have been put into effect and we hope to expand on those this year.
However, the whole problem of crime as it relates to Dublin and other parts of the country is a very serious matter. All I and my Department can do is make tourists more aware of the problem. Hopefully we will not receive anything like the adverse publicity devoted to other capitals worldwide. I am sure Members will be aware, from looking at international news, of attacks and killings that have taken place in other cities worldwide, in main tourist destinations, such as Miami in Florida. Thankfully Ireland has not reached that stage, but that is not to say that any crime committed against tourists should not be deplored.
Would the Minister accept that a large number of offenders involved in such attacks on tourists are juveniles? Would he not join in a call on parents to play their part in adopting a responsible role in the control of their offspring, knowing where they are and what they are doing at all times?
Furthermore, would the Minister agree that it is very frustrating for the Garda authorities, having taken action in such cases, often resulting in convictions, to find such offenders back on the streets within a matter of days?
These are two matters which can be dealt with in the first place by the Minister for Justice. Parental responsibility for children's activities is a vexed question. Some Members of this House would advocate the promulgation of such measures but it does not fall within my remit as Minister for Tourism and Trade. Certainly I can appreciate the view expressed by many people nationwide, often articulated in this House in favour of the introduction of some proposal in that regard. It is something the Government can consider at a later stage. The frustration of the Garda authorities is another matter the Minister for Justice has been considering. She will bring forward proposals in the near future in regard to detention places and centres, hopefully within the context of the 1994 Estimates.
I think the Minister has agreed already that this past summer probably was one of the worst on record in so far as attacks on tourists in Dublin were concerned. Would he agree that we are on a deteriorating spiral, particularly bearing in mind the frequency and viciousness of attacks on tourists? Will he ascertain whether more could be done to alert tourists to the dangers at the various points of entry? Sufficient has not been done in that regard to date. Perhaps the Minister could direct more tourists to Donegal, a relatively safe place for them to holiday.
I agree with the Deputy that one could not go to a safer place and, as for politicians up there, one will never meet a more decent group of people. They do not stab one another in the back. They are more civilised than most other politicians nationwide, so tourists will be all right. They are noted for being nice in politics in Donegal and, when it comes to welcoming tourists, they are even better than in politics. I read out earlier the additional steps we had taken this year with regard to warning messages for tourists entering the country. I can assure Members that we shall be increasing that endeavour in 1994.
I briefly welcome the Minister's counselling and aid initiatives for victims of crime against tourists and welcome the apparently increased co-ordination and co-operation between his Department and the Department of Justice. Would he agree that it is important to keep this debate in perspective, that the vast majority of tourists can have a safe holiday and avail of a quality product and that we could run the risk of talking ourselves out of business by over-emphasising the issue? Nonetheless a serious problem does obtain and there would appear to be recognition of that fact by the Departments of Justice and Tourism and Trade. We shall carefully monitor the Ministers' performances in this regard.
In my reply I dealt at some length with the matter of not overstating the problem. I am glad Deputy Creed has taken up that point. In comparison with other cities worldwide the level of tourist-related crime in Dublin is low. We were lucky that international media attention did not focus on the problem in Dublin, presumably for the good reason that, in comparison with other capital cities worldwide, it is very small here.
That concludes Question Time for today.
