Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The House will join me in offering heartfelt sympathies to the families of two Polish citizens who tragically died as a result of injuries they sustained in a serious attack with an offensive weapon in Drimnagh on 23 February last. A full-scale Garda investigation is under way. The Garda Síochána will, of course, spare no resources to bring about a successful outcome to the investigation. The House will understand that it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the details of the investigation.

The number of deaths involving knives and similar weapons is a particular cause for concern. The number of murders involving stabbing doubled last year from 18 to 36. We have very strong penalties for offences involving knives. The Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 and the Offensive Weapons Order 1991, which control knives and offensive weapons, set out prohibitions on such weapons and severe penalties for breaking those prohibitions. The legislative provisions dealing with offensive weapons and any other measures which might be taken to counteract their availability and use are kept under constant review by my Department. At my request, the Garda Síochána is conducting a review of the provisions of the legislation in the context of the increased use of offensive weapons in assaults and murders. The purpose of the review is to identify aspects of the legislation that may require strengthening from an enforcement perspective. I understand the Commissioner intends to make a submission to me shortly.

All too often the use of offensive weapons is the end result of a pattern of anti-social behaviour or the excessive consumption of alcohol. One of the policing priorities I have set for the Garda Síochána for 2008 under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 is to combat, particularly in co-operation with other agencies and the community generally, public disorder, with particular emphasis on alcohol-related misbehaviour.

Issues of particular concern are the increase in the number of supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations with off-licences and how alcohol products are sold in such outlets, including below cost selling and special promotions. I share the view that we have a problem with our patterns of drinking. It is clear this problem is adding to public disorder.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Following the establishment of the Government alcohol advisory group at the beginning of the year, I have asked the group to examine urgently key aspects of the law governing the sale and consumption of alcohol, including those directed towards combating excessive and under-age alcohol consumption. I have asked the group to report to me by the end of this month. I intend to bring forward after Easter urgent proposals for changes in the law which, with the support of both Houses, I hope will be enacted and implemented before the summer recess. In parallel with this, work will continue on the drafting of a comprehensive Sale of Alcohol Bill, which is included in the Government legislative programme for 2008 and which will modernise and streamline the law in this area.

We have to continue to try to get the message across, to young people in particular, that carrying around knives is dangerous and wrong. One very effective way of addressing this is to introduce a long-term education and awareness raising programme aimed particularly at young people. As part of the policing plan for this year the Garda has decided to launch a publicity campaign aimed at discouraging people from carrying knives. This will be in addition to taking rigorous action under the criminal law against those found carrying them, and it follows from the policing priorities I determined for this year, which include targeting the use of knives for violent attacks.

The Government attaches the highest importance to tackling the use of illegal firearms and offensive weapons generally. The first of the priorities which I have determined for the Garda Síochána for 2008 is targeting gun crime and the illegal activities most closely associated with such crime.

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