Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 7

Written Answers. - Sexual Offences.

Liz McManus

Question:

39 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to figures produced by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre which show that, of the 242 rape cases reported to the centre up to June 1997, only five resulted in convictions and that only 29 per cent of those who went to the centre were prepared to report their cases to the Garda; the plans, if any, he has to review current procedures to encourage greater reporting of rape and sexual assault to the Garda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17003/97]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

As stated in the Department's recently published discussion paper, Tackling Crime, the number of sexual offences reported to the Garda has increased more than six-fold over the period 1971 to 1995. These figures would suggest a growing willingness on the part of victims to report crimes of this kind to the Garda. The Department and the Garda authorities are determined to do all that can be done to further encourage the reporting of such crimes as it is only after the reporting of offences that offenders can be ultimately brought to justice.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Government has decided to establish a national steering committee on violence against women which will be chaired by me. All relevant Departments, together with the Garda and voluntary groups, have a vital role to play on this committee. The decision to establish the national steering committee is in accodance with one of the central recommendations of the recent report of the task force on violence against women. I would expect this committee to address, among other things, the question of the level of the reporting of sexual offences to the Garda.