Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

I understand, but I call for an urgent debate in the House with the chief superintendent, the Minister or both. It is a necessity. It does not matter what day of the week it is, break-ins and robberies occur. I am aware of six such incidents in my neighbourhood which have a common denominator. I am convinced there must be local input if a house is robbed between 10.15 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Sunday. These incidents have happened within a one-mile radius and affected elderly people, a woman who lost her husband and two business people who were robbed at 3 p.m. This type of crime is escalating in parishes throughout the country. I was out for a spin with my wife on a Sunday afternoon and three people on foot, whom I had passed two hours earlier five miles from my home, arrived at my home at 3 p.m. Luckily enough my youngest son was there. I was not there. They did not ring the bell because my car was not there. My son, who was watching a football match, discovered they had robbed everything I had in my garage including a lawnmower. An urgent debate is required. We cannot let this escalate any further in every parish in every town in the country. I am convinced there is local input. If local people are not doing it themselves they are advising those from afar on which houses are vacant and at what time.