Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I remind the Taoiseach that the public statement made by the Director of Public Prosecutions last October was unprecedented. A chief prosecutor has never before had to resort to making public comment that so great was the cut inflicted on his office that he would find it impossible to deal with its day to day business.

In response to Deputy Gilmore, the Taoiseach spoke about the bluntness of the instrument. This 3% cut across the board could not by its very nature have been based on any objective criteria and absolutely no consideration was given to the fact that Ireland has the lowest prosecution rate per head of population of any EU state. In terms of convictions, which is where the office of the DPP plays a most important role, our conviction rates are such that out of 166 gun murders, only 22 successful prosecutions have been brought to date. There is a very serious problem given that the DPP will confirm the work in his office increases at a rate of 5% per annum.

In addition, no consideration is given by the Government to the new phenomenon of credit crunch crime, which will give rise to an even greater level of pressure on the office of the State prosecutor. What steps are being taken to ensure the drastic effects are being minimised? It is giving rise to serious public concern when one of the most important crime enforcement offices in the State is being seriously affected by a cutback.

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