Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

The next question asked whether one would describe the general Garda presence in one's area as "very good", "satisfactory", "unsatisfactory" or "non-existent". Some 6% replied it was "very good", 25% said it was "satisfactory", 31% said it was "unsatisfactory" and 37% said it was "non-existent".

The next question sought to determine whether respondents had confidence in the ability of the courts to combat crime. It is a pity the Minister is not present to hear how they answered. Some 26% said they had confidence in the courts to combat crime and 74% said they did not.

The problem with the Minister and his colleagues in Government is that they do not believe these statistics. The responses reflect what ordinary people from every constituency are saying. The Government can make what it likes of the results, but when so many people decide to put their names to such a survey one can take it they are not satisfied. Regardless of any bluster on the part the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in front of the cameras on the streets of Dublin, and regardless of how rational he might become, the people who answered the questions in the survey do not believe him.

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