David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 28 November 2006, the reason recorded incidents of domestic violence in the past two years were not published in the Garda Síochána annual reports in 2004 and 2005, as they were in previous years; if his attention has been drawn to this and if he gave his consent to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41795/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda management are satisfied that all criminal incidents reported to them are being recorded. Incidents are recorded on PULSE on the basis of the criminal offence they disclose, which may range from homicide to minor assault, whether related to domestic violence or otherwise.

I understand that instructions relating to the recording of incidents involving domestic violence were issued by the Garda authorities earlier this year and the operation of this policy is being monitored.

Statistics relating to the number of breaches of court orders issued under domestic violence legislation have been published in the Garda Annual Report since 2004.

I am further informed that until 2004 statistics published were generated from a stand alone paper based system. Since 2004 the statistics published are based on the number of breaches of court orders issued under domestic violence legislation as recorded on the PULSE system. The PULSE data is more comprehensive and provides a greater level of detail about detections, arrests, proceedings and a more complete view of breaches of domestic violence legislation than that provided by the previous system.