Crime and street violence have always been potent political issues. And, in spite of rising living standards, a recent survey showed they have become the principle cause of concern to citizens. The Government is particularly vulnerable because of the "zero tolerance" campaign waged by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.
In spite of commitments made at that time, crime statistics for the year 2000, published last month, showed a serious increase in the number of assaults causing harm against the person. And indications are that the situation continued to worsen last year.
The opposition parties chose to open the new Dáil session yesterday by submitting a joint motion, linking Fine Gael, the Labour Party and the Green Party, in condemning the Government's failures. They complained about a dramatic increase in the incidence of violence crime; of the need for citizens to feel safe while going about their daily lives and of a failure by the Minister to publish preliminary crime figures for 2001.
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Given the political jeopardy involved, it was to be expected that Mr O'Donoghue should attempt to put the best possible gloss on the situation. But the comparison of dissimilar categories of crime does nothing to reassure the public. It also sends a very negative signal to the recently appointed National Crime Council (NCC) which criticised the manner in which the Garda Síochána compiles its statistics and called for the establishment of an independent expert group on crime statistics. Such reforms, it argued, were important in reassuring the public and in planning the development of a modern police force.
In his defence, the Minister for Justice drew attention to the increase in the number of Garda and prison places; the extra financial resources provided and the 42 pieces of legislation he had introduced. But, in recognition of growing public disquiet and the coming general election, he promised a new Criminal Justice Public Enforcement Bill within a matter of weeks that would come down hard on drunk and unruly elements. Given that the upsurge in late night violence followed an extension of pub opening hours by this Government, perhaps a reversal of that decision might be considered in advance of legislation.