Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:30 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the large increase in the numbers of reported cases of rape in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3163/98]
Written Answers. - Rape Cases.
Billy Timmins
Ceist:36 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the large increase in the numbers of reported cases of rape in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3166/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:61 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has undertaken any research into the reasons for the increase in cases of rape as reflected in the provisional Garda crime figures for 1997; if not, if any such research is planned in this regard; when the expected discussion document on sexual offences will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3120/98]
Olivia Mitchell
Ceist:100 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the large increase in the numbers of reported cases of rape in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3164/98]
Nora Owen
Ceist:104 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the large increase in the numbers of reported cases of rape in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3167/98]
Monica Barnes
Ceist:110 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the large increase in the numbers of reported cases of rape in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3162/98]
Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:113 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the large increase in the numbers of reported cases of rape in 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3165/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos, 30, 36, 61, 100, 104, 110 and 113 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of rapes reported to the Garda increased from 143 in 1993 to 180 in 1996. While official Garda statistics have not yet been published for 1997, I understand the provisional figures show there has been a significant increase in the number of reported rapes as compared to 1996. I am very concerned about the apparent trend. However, there are a number of developments in this area which will be of particular interest to the House and they are as follows.
Late last year, the Commissioner directed that the Garda Research Unit should conduct research into the incidence of rape from 1994 to 1997. This research is now under way. I welcome the Commissioner's decision and I look forward to seeing the findings of the research.
As the Deputies may be aware, the Government has established a national steering committee on violence against women which is chaired by Deputy Mary Wallace, Minister of State at my Department. All relevant Government 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 accordance 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 urgently the implications of the increase in the number of reported cases of rape in recent years.
My Department is also preparing a discussion paper on sexual offences. The document is nearing finalisation and I expect to be in a position to publish it shortly. It represents an important stage in the process of evaluating the need for further reform of the law on sexual offences. The law with regard to rape will, of course, be covered in the discussion paper.
There is also a research project being jointly undertaken by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Trinity College Dublin under the EU Grotius Programme. This project is reviewing the legal process as it affects victims of rape in all EU member states. Such an examination will allow us to identify and draw upon the best practice as it is applied in the various jurisdictions. Officials of my Department recently met with the researchers to assist them in their work.
In addition, my Department is currently in the process of identifying its priority topics for research for which a provision of £250,000 has been made in my Department's Estimates allocation for 1998. There is a range of topics in the crime area which call out for research and the incidence of rape is certainly one of them.
Finally, the National Crime Forum which convenes on 26 February will provide a unique opportunity to the public, and their representative bodies, to make a tangible contribution to crime policy. The agenda for the forum is currently taking shape and I understand that a debate on the entire issue of violence against women, including rape, will form a major part of the forum's work.
The report of the forum will be taken into account in deciding on the form and composition of a permanent National Crime Council to be set up later in the year. It will also feed into the White Paper on Crime which I intend to publish before the end of 1998.