Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for being here to take this matter on the Adjournment. First, however, I congratulate Senator Donohoe on raising the previous issue. I recently visited the military archives in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, and was thrilled to come across a group photograph which includes my grandfather. I also discovered his original autograph in the Ballykinlar book. It was a thrill to see the autograph of my grandfather, who died before I was born. I encourage the Minister to find mechanisms to provide more such research locations for students and others. The authorities at the military archives told me that they have boxes of material that they cannot record. The archival material is lying in warehouses because they do not have the personnel to deal with it. While there may be data protection issues involved, there are many students who would like to have an opportunity to access that material. I thank the House for allowing me some latitude to raise that issue.

This Adjournment matter concerns the need for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to discuss with the Garda Commissioner ways in which the Garda Síochána can improve its communications strategy with victims of crime, those who report crime and the public to enhance mutual respect, knowledge and understanding of each other. As a public representative, I come across people who have either been victims of crime or who have reported crime-related incidents. In such cases I often get the impression that no feedback was involved. Gardaí may say that a certain amount of activity happened but they could not catch those responsible. They may also say that the process is continuing but has not yet finished. There seems to be a gap between people giving and getting information. If someone is causing bother in a town, a person may say "I won't phone the guards because if I do they will want all my details before they'll do anything". At times, people are desisting from reporting crime because they feel they will go through the forensic mill more than the perpetrators, although I know the policing forums will improve the position.

I recently came across a magazine that comes out regularly in the North, although I am not claiming that the North has all the answers in this regard. It is a regular report that comes from the chief constable of the PSNI. It is reader friendly, informative and contains articles on police budgets and staff retirements. Such simple matters seem to have been left out of our system. In my area, for example, Garda staff, including sergeants and superintendents, change quite regularly, so a lot of the time one does not know who local gardaí are. Some mechanism should be found to get information to the public concerning their local gardaí. People will not or cannot engage with such people until they know who they are. Useful Garda deployment and information exchanges can only happen if people know who is there.

The PSNI magazine contains information on who to go to for help following burglaries and how better to protect oneself from potential crimes. There are many good articles containing statistics and facts on what the PSNI is doing with its budget. In that way people can see a level of accountability. The articles also cover issues such as safety at school and road safety, as well as combating hate crime and rape. It is all straightforward material and is covered like a local newspaper so that readers can understand it. It shows that the PSNI is making an effort to communicate. I receive the Garda Review so I know when a garda has moved from one place to another, but it is really a document about the Garda Síochána and the profession. It is almost a union magazine. Something like this is worth exploring.

Justice powers have not been devolved in the North so it will be between our Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the equivalent in Westminster to find simple ways to communicate with the public and build their confidence and trust. The more confidence and trust that is built, the more exchanges of information that will take place. In such scenarios, crime is not solved but can be prevented. Ultimately, that is what we should be trying to do.