Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I was in doubt about it. Under the Firearms Act six offences attract mandatory minimum sentences and I am providing in amendments Nos. 117, 119, 120, 132 to 135, inclusive, 139 to 141, inclusive, 151 to 157, inclusive, and 165 to 167, inclusive, that where an offence carries a mandatory minimum sentence, any person convicted of a second or subsequent such offence shall be automatically sentenced to imprisonment for the mandatory minimum period allowed. I am also providing that where somebody who has a previous conviction for an offence that carries a mandatory minimum sentence is convicted of another offence that carries a mandatory sentence, that person shall automatically be sentenced for the mandatory minimum period. This means that if one commits a second offence to which the sentence applies, one cannot avail of the special excusing circumstances.

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