Madam, - Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is correct when he says Asbos are not the "be all and end all" (Dáil Report, April 4th). Finian McGrath TD is even more correct when he says that talk of preventive measures has been totally absent from the debate on crime.
Recently, an event of great relevance to the issue of crime prevention passed almost unnoticed. This was the publication by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland of its "Consultation Document - Phase 2", which proposes rules for a new code of programme standards.
The BCI is inviting responses from the public before May 16th about whether it agrees with the proposed content of this Code.
With reputable, professional scientific bodies such as the American Psychological Society and the National Institute for Mental Health (US) publishing comprehensive studies showing a clear link between violence in the media and subsequent violent anti-social behaviour, it is vital that the public insists on the BCI protecting our children with the introduction of meaningful, enforceable controls on violent material.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the proposed code, at present, does not contain these.
A copy of the consultation document is available directly from the BCI or on its website at www.bci.ie.
- Yours, etc,
DÓNAL O'SULLIVAN, Executive Committee, Family and Media Association, Blackrock, Co Dublin.