The latest quarterly crime statistics from the Garda Síochána show a 7 per cent decrease in serious crime over the past 12 months, confirming a downward trend in recent years.
However, the Minister for Justice warned against complacency, pointing out that the figures did not show the amounts taken in major robberies, for example, and acknowledging that figures for certain categories of rape offences had increased. Michael McDowell said he would press on with reform of the criminal justice system.
He also acknowledged that these crime statistics may not be complete, as they drew only on crimes reported to the Garda Síochána.
The Central Statistics Office had been given responsibility for compiling crime statistics from a number of sources, including Garda statistics and victimisation studies. However, Mr McDowell stressed that comparing like with like in the statistics, crime had been falling over the past 10 years.
"Over the past 10 years, serious crimes per 100,000 of the population has fallen from 28 per 100,000 to 24," he said.
"The situation in Ireland is generally good. Especially with regard to homicide, it is one of the safest places in the world."
He acknowledged that the way the "headline" figures were compiled, and the classification of crimes into "headline" and "non-headline" meant that there was no distinction drawn between theft from shops and the theft of bicycles, and crimes like murder, manslaughter, serious assault and armed robbery.
Two sets of figures were presented yesterday, one comparing the first quarter of this year with the first quarter of 2004, the other comparing the year up to the end of March this year with the year up to the end of March 2004.
The two sets showed slight variations, with the first-quarter figures showing an 11 per cent decrease, while the year-on-year figures showed only a 7 per cent decrease.
The year-on-year figures showed two more murders this year than last, while manslaughter fell from nine to five, a fall of 44 per cent. Burglaries were also down, by 6 per cent.
Rape of a female was up 10 per cent, from 304 to 333, while "section 4 rape", including anal rape and rape with objects, was up by 10 instances, or by 18 per cent.
Possession of drugs for sale or supply was up slightly, by 3 per cent, as was the discharge of firearms, up 12 per cent.
The theft of bicycles showed one of the biggest increases, up 17 per cent, a similar increase to that of robbery from institutions.
When the first quarter of this year is compared with that of last year, the increase in bicycle theft is of 70 per cent and robbery of institutions is up 27 per cent.
The Fine Gael spokesman for justice said the figures were much higher than when the FF/ PD government took power. Jim O'Keeffe also said that the increase in robberies from institutions was worrying.
Labour Party spokesman Joe Costello said that the figures did not reflect the reality of armed gangs walking away with almost €5 million.
They also said nothing about the "plague of anti-social behaviour" that was making life a misery in many areas.