asked the Minister for Justice the annual number of incidents of bombing, arson, robbery, assault, hijacking or other crimes since 1st January, 1972 which his Department believe are related to terrorist activity; and the number of people charged and the number of people convicted in connection with these crimes.

Crime statistics are not, and in the nature of things cannot be, compiled on a basis which would provide the sort of information sought by the Deputy. The question of whether a particular crime constitutes, or is related to, terrorist activity involves not only an analysis and assessment of the motives of the perpetrator or perpetrators but also a definition of what in fact is meant by the term "terrorist activity". Even if the difficulties inherent in such an exercise could be overcome and an acceptable assessment made in relation to crimes for which those responsible have been detected, there is no way in which such an assessment could be made in relation to crimes as yet undetected.