Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I will. As I said, I will bring the Deputy's remarks to the attention of the Minister for Justice and Equality whose views are very much along the lines of restorative justice. Naturally, we should understand this end of the equation is considered after the damage has been done. Even where a financial penalty was imposed by the courts, a strong sense of violation would still be experienced. A stolen item of sentimental value, for example, a wedding ring inherited from a mother or a grandmother, can never be replaced.

It may not be the financial value but rather the family or sentimental value that is important. This is why we have to address the issue of home burglaries by preventing them. The work that is being done by neighbourhood watch groups and community gardaí helps in advising local communities and home owners about simple precautionary measures, such as not leaving the bathroom window open when one is on one's way out because one has forgotten to close it. Householders can get advice on these simple precautionary measures. Community gardaí and neighbourhood watch groups have developed ways of identifying and marking personal goods to enable gardaí to identify their owners when somebody is detected. There is also a requirement for a sense of good neighbourhood in communities so that people keep watch over the homes of those who live alone and who may be vulnerable. This is a big issue and it causes considerable worry for people. The suggestions that the Deputy made this morning are valuable and constructive, and I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to consider them.

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