Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I concur to a degree with Senator Michael Mullins and it is appropriate that we remind ourselves that St. Patrick's Day is about more than just tourism, although tourism has become an important part of it. We could renew some of our Christian values which St. Patrick bequeathed to us. There is a need for it in society across Europe and Ireland.

Will the Deputy Leader invite the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, here to debate the issue of crimes such as burglaries and theft, which go under the radar and receive very little focus and publicity, yet which are very insidious and damaging to people's lives? I have already mentioned here a lady in her 90s who was living alone and was burgled. The experience ruined the rest of her life because she no longer had the confidence to live alone. This crime is endemic across the country and in my area, south west Wexford, there has been a spate of robberies. Most of them go undetected and unresolved and nobody is brought to justice for them. One of the most significant problems is that the perpetrators go on to become involved in much more serious crime. There is no such thing as a victimless crime. I would like a debate here on this because there has been no statement from the Minister or any Government politician on it. The Garda must put more emphasis on it in order that the detection of such crimes is brought up to the standards of best practice internationally. Very few of these crimes are solved. Often, gardaí know who the perpetrators are but cannot meet the evidential barrier.

I would like a debate on the Constitution. Recently there have been debates here and in the Lower House about abortion in situations in which unborn children are diagnosed as being terminally ill or having a disability that means they will not survive. We must be careful because in the neighbouring island, where this is allowed, unborn babies who are diagnosed in the womb with a cleft palate or a club foot have been aborted as a result. It is used as an excuse to introduce abortion on demand. The Constitution has been a great protection for Irish people over the years and rather than dismissing it and its provisions, we should welcome its protection. Ultimately, the people will decide all these issues.