Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like the Taoiseach to address the central issue here, which is that we do not have reliable crime statistics in this State. For the Taoiseach to welcome the publication of statistics that the CSO, our independent statistics office, cannot stand over is quite worrying. An officer of the CSO said on national radio this morning that they were the best available statistics, but are certainly subject to further amendment and change. How can we have what the Taoiseach says the country needs, accurate and comparable statistics? Patently we have not. What is he going to do to ensure not only that the homicide figures are accurate, but that all statistics produced about crime in this country are absolutely accurate? What measures will he take to ensure that whatever failings have occurred to deny us that accuracy will be brought to light?

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