Yesterday a Redemptorist priest, Fr. Michael Cusack, had some things to say about the Government's policy on rural policing. He "urged fresh thinking on policing resources so that people in rural communities do not sleep in their beds in fear, and evil does not triumph over virtue." He went on to describe how, after a garda had been removed from his local parish in County Galway, a particularly horrific crime occurred. Is the Minister aware that Fr. Cusack is merely reflecting concerns expressed by the Opposition for many months and, more important, the Garda Síochána, elected members of political parties, not least the main Government party, independent commentators who have written on and spoken about the subject, Muintir na Tíre, the IFA, rural communities, community leaders and every group which represents anyone in rural Ireland? Is the Minister further aware that there are more reports today of a businessman in County Galway who has been robbed four times in the past six months and a woman in County Kildare who has been robbed twice in recent months by people who travelled from the city by bus to commit the robberies? Is the Government going to ignore and dismiss all the concerns of communities throughout the country by proceeding to allow 95 rural Garda stations to close as and from today?

I listened carefully to what Fr. Cusack had to say yesterday in the Redemptorist Church in Dundalk. He spoke very movingly about the trauma experienced by anyone, whether they lived in a rural area or a city centre, who had ever been subjected to a robbery or an invasion of his or her home space, particularly robbery with violence. Fr. Cusack spoke movingly about that experience. In the latter part of his comments Deputy Willie O'Dea addressed what was happening in terms of the changes in crime patterns because of the development of the road network.

I did not ask that question.

The Deputy brought it up. Everyone on all sides of the House is aware that it is possible for individuals or groups involved in crime to move rapidly from one part of the country to another. For this reason, the Garda has undertaken a special operation to target those involved in such crimes which, I suggest to the Deputy, not only affect the rural areas about which he speaks but all suburban areas in towns and cities also. This is one of the changes in how criminals operate. I note the significant success of the Garda operation, Operation Fiacla, as a consequence of which between April and December 2012 a total of 3,538 people were arrested and 1,925 people were charged. As part of this debate there is a real issue in terms of how our police force operates. Yesterday we saw at the funeral of Detective Garda Donohoe a magnificent and moving demonstration of how the community, the country and the State stand by gardaí as gardaí have stood by their country. Operation Fiacla probably represents one of the best developments in Garda management and the fight against crime. It shows, in terms of results and the number of arrests, the numbers being brought before the courts and the decline in the number of burglaries.

What planet is the Minister living on?

In terms of the debate in the House, Fianna Fáil should consider how best we should police all parts of society, with the objective of bringing criminals before the courts and putting those found guilty behind bars. That is what modern, effective policing is about.

I asked the Minister a simple direct question and she answered everything but the question I asked. She quoted various data. The number of burglaries is up by 10%, but I suppose if one tortures data sufficiently, one can get them to confess to anything. That is the bottom line. I am amazed to hear the development of the road network is now responsible for much rural crime. I am putting a direct question to the Minister. Does she consider a society in which people, old people in particular and persons living in isolated rural areas, go to bed at night in fear represents the vision for change the people voted for only two years ago? As I want to be clear, I am asking the Minister a direct question. Will she confirm to the House and, through it, the country that in spite of all the anxiety, fear, terror and protests from thousands of people who have turned out to protest at the closures throughout the country, the Government's answer is, "No change; we are going to proceed regardless"? A simple "Yes" or "No" would suffice.

Yes.

I remind Deputy Willie O'Dea that he referred to the phenomenon of people going out from urban areas. He said they used buses.

"Yes" or "No".

Everyone in the House serving different parts of the country is aware that criminal methods have changed. People use vans and other forms of transport. The response of the Garda, in particular Garda management, has been to develop targeted policing methods to actually deal with the problem.

Deputy Willie O'Dea may scoff but the fact is that anybody, whether living in an urban or rural area, will suffer if his or her home is invaded by someone bent on robbery. That is what Fr. Michael Cusack was talking about yesterday. I was in the church listening extremely carefully. He referred to the enormous trauma suffered by victims of robbery. He told the stories of two victims of violent robbery in particular.

He was talking about changing Government policy.

It would be great if the Government heeded him.

We must examine as a nation how we develop modern policing which addresses the fact that criminals in this and other societies have developed their methods as the roads system has developed.

Is it by closing Garda stations?

Deputy Willie O'Dea raised the issue of people travelling out from town on a bus to rob a rural area. He is the one who raised it, so why would he complain?

Are you proceeding with closures? I asked you a specific question.

I am providing you with a response which is specific to the issue you raised. Garda management has been overseeing an important operation called "Operation Fiacla".

Yes or no?

Order, please. The Minister to conclude.

I am very surprised that Deputy Willie O'Dea does not seem to be aware of the work being done by the Garda right around the country and that he does not support its professional work.

Over the 12 months to the end of the third quarter of 2012, the recorded incidence of aggravated burglary fell by 17%. Does Deputy Willie O'Dea understand that Garda management has put in place a comprehensive operation in Operation Fiacla to reduce this kind of crime and that the operation is working?

Hear, hear.

Support the Garda.

That is not what people are telling us.

The operation has reduced the reports of aggravated burglary by 17%.

Answer my question. Yes or no?

There is no money for overtime.

That does not mean that people are not fearful or that if someone's house is invaded by a burglar, it is not traumatic.

The Minister has taken four minutes to fail to answer the question. Are Garda stations being closed? Yes or no?

Please, Deputies.

Good policing is what we want and it is what Garda management is providing. The use of modern policing techniques is the reason the reported incidence of aggravated burglary has fallen.