Barry Ward (Fine Gael)
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First, I agree with the increase in penalties. It makes sense. What we are dealing with, as Deputy O’Callaghan said, is many young men in particular being penalised by this. It is important to distinguish between the summary and indictable elements of the existing legislation because you will see in the District Court many young men being prosecuted for what I think is very minor possession of even a pen knife on a key ring and things like that. Sometimes they might be stopped for something else and it is the only thing the Garda can get them on. They do proceed with prosecutions for things like that, which is not right, and it certainly is not helpful in the context of what we are really trying to address with this legislation.

I agree with the other commentators who said that the crimes involved are serious matters.

Possession of knives only ever really leads to serious consequences. I also accept what has been said about the fact that certain people bring a knife with them because they see it as their only mechanism for self-defence, and then something goes horribly wrong. I have been involved in a number of cases with very tragic consequences for people. It is a horrible thing.

The big question I have for Deputy O’Callaghan is whether this would not fit better, more easily and more effectively as an amendment to something like, for example, other criminal justice legislation such as the criminal justice Bill that has just gone through the Houses. Could it not have been an amendment to that? Would that not be an easier way to effect this? Is the firearms legislation as very simple tight net amendment not a better way to do it?