Jimmy Deenihan
Question:36 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Justice the provisions, if any, she intends to put in place to protect tourists visiting this country in 1994; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Protection of Tourists.
Since taking office as Minister for Justice I have dealt comprehensively on a number of occasions, most recently on 14 October 1993 in response to a number of questions raised by the Deputy — Official Report Volume 434, No. 6, columns 1270-1273 — with the issues of attacks on tourists and the measures taken by the Garda authorities to counteract the problem. These include close liaison and co-operation between the Garda authorities, Bord Fáilte and other tourist interests, deployment of additional gardaí in areas frequented by tourists and the provision and distribution of information leaflets containing advice on protecting property and belongings, etc. In addition, the topic is covered extensively in Garda in-service training courses. Gardaí are encouraged to avail themselves of language training courses. The Garda office in O'Connell Street serves as a centre for advising tourists to Dublin on preventative measures which they can take.
These are not once off measures designed to respond to a particular situation at a particular time but represent a comprehensive set of measures designed to ensure an effective, long term response to the problem. For this reason the measures taken are kept under regular review. In addition, I am informed by the Garda authorities that any other measures which are considered necessary to deal with the problem will be implemented.
A new initiative in the area of crimes against tourists has been the decision to establish a tourist assistance service in the Dublin area which will be operated by the Irish Association for Victim Support — IAVS. This new concept is being modelled on the existing Amsterdam tourist assistance service and will provide tourists who have been the victims of crime with a practical support service in order to assist them in overcoming the initial trauma of their experiences. The Garda Síochána have been involved in setting up this service and will be providing premises for its operation. I understand that the necessary arrangements for the establishment of this service are well advanced. I expect that the new service will commence in April. I am confident that it will prove to be of immense benefit to visitors to this country who suffer the misfortune of becoming victims of criminal activity.