Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I asked the Minister a simple direct question and she answered everything but the question I asked. She quoted various data. The number of burglaries is up by 10%, but I suppose if one tortures data sufficiently, one can get them to confess to anything. That is the bottom line. I am amazed to hear the development of the road network is now responsible for much rural crime. I am putting a direct question to the Minister. Does she consider a society in which people, old people in particular and persons living in isolated rural areas, go to bed at night in fear represents the vision for change the people voted for only two years ago? As I want to be clear, I am asking the Minister a direct question. Will she confirm to the House and, through it, the country that in spite of all the anxiety, fear, terror and protests from thousands of people who have turned out to protest at the closures throughout the country, the Government's answer is, "No change; we are going to proceed regardless"? A simple "Yes" or "No" would suffice.

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