David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was asked to come to the House to discuss assaults on the public in the Rathfarnham Garda district, which I have done. I was not asked to provide any specific information. If I had been I would have done my best to supply it. We were not asked those questions initially. However, I thank the Deputy for providing the opportunity to have this important debate. The fact that the issue is raised here does raise its profile in the Department, with the Minister and others, so the Deputy has provided a good service in doing that. I am very happy to pass on his comments to the Minister.

I have dealt in general terms in the response to the crimes and I hope that has been of some help. It is important that we have a general national policy on such issues. However, if the Deputy has more specific concerns the Minister has asked me to say he will be happy to bring them to the attention of the Garda authorities. I invite the Deputy to write to me or the senior Minister with his specific questions and concerns and we will be happy to follow them up, as we have done in the past.

As I have already said, the immediate responses to crime incidents are clearly a matter for local Garda management. We cannot interfere in that. It is clearly a matter for them, and as the Deputy himself has said, they are helpful and professional and they go with their job as best they can.

That being said, the Government is determined that every appropriate support will be provided to assist local gardaí in confronting crime and in protecting communities. I have outlined the huge increase in spending for the recruitment drive that is ongoing, the increase in spending for vehicles and for information and communications technology etc. The Deputy mentioned that the Garda helicopter was available and was in the area. He has actually outlined that there was visible evidence of increased activity. I am sure there are overt and covert operations happening. The gardaí are very professional in dealing with these. The Minister and I are very anxious to be of any assistance to any public representative who brings concerns of this nature to the House.

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