Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I express sympathy to the victims of all these crimes and wonder if these crimes would have occurred if the victims' savings had been safe in the banks or credit unions. People's money, however, is not safe anywhere with the Tánaiste's policies. I ask the Tánaiste and the Government to consider launching a public information and awareness campaign on security and on the matter, as was done in the past, of keeping cash in their homes because they are afraid to keep it in any of the institutions, the guaranteed ones or otherwise. By doing that they would support Muintir Na Tíre and all the other groups that are helping to fit safety alarms and equipment.

I would like to thank the my friend, Big Phil, the Minister, Deputy Hogan, for doing a U-turn recently on the cut in respect of alarms. I ask for further money to be put into this area because people must be safe in their homes. If they cannot sleep in their beds at night it leads to ill health and to them moving out of their homes and being afraid to return to them.

I ask the Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice and Equality to visit with the gardaí some of the homes of the people who have been savagely attacked not only once but in some cases twice or three times. No place is safe from attack any more not even not church sacristies. I ask the Tánaiste to deal with this issue in a serious manner.

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