Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept it is a serious matter and that is why I think the Senator should raise it directly with the Minister. As I said, he was in the House last week but I will certainly ask about getting him to come here for another debate on policing. I am very much open to doing that, as I know many Senators on both sides of the House have sought that. It would be worthwhile having a bigger debate on policing which looks not only at station closures but at smart policing and the effect and impact of policing.

If we look at the crime figures, we see that serious crime levels have decreased. That is not to downplay in any way the serious recent incidents of aggravated burglary that have occurred and caused great concern around the country. It is none the less worth noting that the launch of Operation Fiacla to tackle mobile gangs and burglary has had a significant effect. I am told that between April and December 2012, more than 3,500 persons were arrested and approximately 2,000 persons were charged as part of that operation. Smart policing is having an impact on crime figures. The picture is somewhat more complex perhaps than is being painted. We might have a more reflective debate on the issue when the Minister is available rather than deal with it by way of knee-jerk amendment to the Order of Business, in particular given the recent debate on Fianna Fáil's Private Members'-----