Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will agree it is essential that we get accurate information in respect of reported crime and the recording of crime. Without it, we cannot formulate proper policy responses.

The Minister mentioned the crime statistics for the first quarter of 2019. In many respects, they reveal the point I wish to make. For example, the increase of 10% in sexual offences is a matter about which I am extremely concerned. Each recent CSO quarterly crime statistics publication has shown an increase in sexual offences. That is either due to the fact that people are becoming more confident about reporting sexual offences or, alternatively, it could be due to the fact that there has been an increase in sexual offences. The latter would not surprise me because the prevalence of pornography on the Internet, which we discussed earlier, must be having some impact on young men. We need to try to engage more with the CSO to ensure it can try to identify more accurately the cause of these trends in reported crime. I do not know whether the Minister has any proposals in that regard on a higher level.

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