Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Senator Cummins talks about spin. When I receive the quarterly figures I study them carefully and then I make a totally vain attempt to convey the truth to the people. Whatever I do, my good friends in the media immediately engage in a massive distortion of the figures. That is what happens on every occasion. If there is a decrease of 4% in overall crime, it is reported that rape incidents have soared by 90% or something like that. If one reads down to the end of the report one will find that crime levels are decreasing. Spin on this matter comes from the media, not from me. In the statements I issue I always counsel against rash conclusions, ask people to examine the totality of the figures and remind them that the overall figures for headline offences equates the theft of a bicycle with a murder.