asked the Minister for Justice if he will direct the Central Statistics Office to prepare and publish weekly figures showing, (a) the number of armed robberies reported during that week, and (b) the approximate total estimated value of the money or other property taken in such armed robberies.

23.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will direct the Central Statistics Office to prepare and publish weekly figures showing the number of serious crimes reported during that week.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 23 together.

The answer to both questions is "no". The compilation of the statistics sought would involve extra work for the Garda which could only be undertaken at the expense of other and far more pressing tasks.

Would the Minister agree that the ordinary citizen, with a little diligence, is able to compile these figures from the daily papers?

If what the Deputy has said is true then there should be no need to do what the Deputy suggested in his question.

The Minister knows that is not an answer to my question. Would he agree that the compilation of incidents of armed robberies which are now almost a daily occurrence—sometimes we have multiple robberies in one day—would not take up too much of the time of the clerical staff in his Department particularly when he bears in mind that he promised that clerical work, as far as possible, would be taken over from uniformed members and performed by civilians?

I am moving to the next question.

The Minister should be given a chance to reply.

The Deputy has asked the same question that the Minister has answered. He is repeating the question and taking up the time of the House in doing so.

The Minister's answer was palpable nonsense.

That is not a matter for the Chair.

I appreciate that.

I should like to say to Deputy FitzGerald that as one who puts figures down daily he should recognise the many difficulties one can encounter.

I know there have been many armed robberies. The number is high but the compilation of weekly figures involving six or 12 armed robberies per week is not a major task.

If I were to give figures off the top of my head at every hands turn we would certainly have plenty of nonsense.

Deputy Kelly is not asking for figures off the top of the Minister's head. Everything the Minister does in the Department appears to be from the top of his head. Deputy Kelly wants a factual statement of the number of armed robberies. Would the Minister reconsider his position?

Is the Chair calling the next question?

What is wrong, Minister? Is the Minister afraid and now running away?

I am calling the next question.

It would embarrass the Minister to know those figures.