3rd April 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREENS ACCUSE McDOWELL AND GOVERNMENT OF 'GRAVE DERELICTION OF DUTY

Party Calls for Immediate Recruitment of Extra Gardaí

The Green Party has accused the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell and the Government of a 'grave dereliction of duty'  following the publication of provisional crime statistics which show a massive increase in the crime rate.

Green Party Justice spokesperson,  Ciarán Cuffe TD,  said today,  "The massive increase in crime figures makes for alarming reading.  It is quite clear that Minister McDowell and this coalition government has singularly failed in their duty to protect the public against this rising tide of crime. Minister McDowell has failed the country badly. The Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill published last year has still not been enacted while the Garda recruitment embargo has been a 'penny wise and pound foolish' move which has left the public seriously exposed.   On returning to Government last year Fianna Fail immediately turned its back on its promise to recruit an extra 2000 gardaí and the result of this u- turn is that assaults, sexual assault, violent crime and larceny have all increased dramatically.   The Green Party are calling for the immediate recruitment of extra Gardaí as a first step toward tackling this serious problem."

INFORMATION

Ciarán Cuffe TD   6183082 or 087 265 2075

Stephen Rawson Press Officer  087 235 7551