Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I join the Minister in his words of sympathy to the families of those brutally murdered in the most recent tragedy on our streets. I put it to him that killings and stabbings with offensive weapons of varying degrees, as well as gangland killings with firearms, are evidence that criminals have absolutely no difficulty in acquiring such weapons for the use of lethal force. Will he undertake in the review an examination of the availability of lethal weapons over the counter? Some months ago I brought to the attention of the House the fact that samurai swords and other such implements were available for sale over the counter in retail outlets at a cost of approximately €50 or €60. What function does the Minister see for such swords other than inflicting serious injury and perhaps death? After I brought this matter to the attention of the Minister, there was an horrific case in west Finglas in which an individual had his arm sliced off with a samurai sword. The Minister must not only look at the use of such weapons in the context of firearms and offensive weapons legislation but also at the sale, importation and retail distribution of such implements. What steps does he propose to take to outlaw and ban such weapons?

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