Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise commitments in the realm of justice that were promised under the programme for Government. Last week, I raised the issue of violent muggings and burglaries on the streets of Dublin. We also learned last week of the horrendous rapes of three college students in Cork, of how they had not reported the incidents to their colleges or to the Garda and of the fact that two of them have dropped out of college as a result of trauma and personal violation. In response, the Government agreed to set up a forum locally so that there could be a central focus by the Garda, the HEA and the presidents of the various colleges involved. The recently published CSO report shows increases in nine of 14 categories of crime. While recognising the work of the Garda in respect of gangland crime, in the sexual offences category there has been a 10.2% increase. This means that approximately 3,000 sexual offences were committed between June 2017 and June of this year. This frightening statistic cannot be ignored. There were also increases in theft offences and a 10.7% increase in weapons and explosives offences. All Senators have heard of increased anti-social behaviour and increased crime in rural and urban areas. The CSO report confirms what we have been hearing.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to consider the introduction of mandatory sentencing for robbery in the home involving violence. Is this mandatory sentencing ever going to be introduced? There is also a commitment to resource the courts, particularly the Circuit Court, to deal with increased non-summary prosecutions of serious crimes. Will this happen? I ask the Deputy Leader to provide an update on these commitments.

I take this opportunity to convey my sympathies, and those of the Fianna Fáil group, to the family of a woman who died in tragic circumstances on Tuesday when she was run over by a lorry on a residential street in Inchicore. This was a freak accident but it should not have happened. I urge vigilance on the part of those driving articulated lorries or other motor vehicles in residential areas in our cities and towns. This tragedy could have been avoided. My heart goes out to the woman's family.