asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the number of robberies in Dublin City reported to the police since 1st January, 1951, and the number in which no arrests have been made.

From 1st January, 1951, to 20th October, 1953, 26 robberies in Dublin City were reported to the police and in nine cases arrests were made.

Does the Minister think it is a satisfactory state of affairs that out of 26 robberies only nine were fully investigated by the police? Is he aware of the very serious uneasiness that exists at the present time as a result of the failure to maintain law and order? Robberies and holds-up are becoming too frequent. The Minister is not doing his job in that respect.

Would the Minister state if the prevention of recruitment to the Garda by the late Government had anything to do with this state of affairs?

I would say that that is the principal cause of it.

The Minister is not doing his job. If he does not do it, he should get out. The citizens should be safeguarded.

You would have no police force and then you would expect them to do their job.