Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

——in the not too distant future.

The use of weapons by gang members is a matter of particular concern. I fully support the comments which the Garda Commissioner made at the Committee of Public Accounts last week about licensed handguns. The Commissioner acknowledged at the meeting that I have raised this matter with him on many occasions over the past number of months. Since I became Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I have made clear my concern at the number and type of handguns being licensed. That is why, at my direction, my Department and the Garda Síochána have engaged in an urgent and intensive review of the firearms law. That review is now in its final stages. In addition, work is well under way on the preparation of a criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill which, among other things, will give effect to the proposals emerging from that review.

I do not believe we can countenance a proliferation of handguns as a matter of public policy. I raised this issue with my Cabinet colleagues this morning and they agreed with my assessment. I recognise that the vast majority of handgun owners are responsible people, but my concern is the safety of the public, particularly at a time of concern about gun crime. I accept what Deputies have said about sports people. Do we want to go down the road of America, Finland and other countries where there is a proliferation of handguns? Until 2004, handguns were completely banned in Ireland but the position changed as a result of a court case, rather than any measures taken in the House. I will make a detailed statement on this matter in the near future. I will record now that in light of the Troubles all handguns were banned in this jurisdiction from the early 1970s until a few years ago. Following a series of judicial decisions that is no longer the case. No public policy decision was made to bring about this situation.

The Criminal Justice Act 2006 made a number of changes strengthening our firearms code. One of the purposes of the criminal justice (miscellaneous provisions) Bill will be to make a number of technical changes which are necessary to ensure that some of those changes can be brought into operation effectively. However, in light of the situation we face, I do not believe these measures on their own will be sufficient and I will go further.

I am conscious, as should be other Deputies, of the remarks made by Mr. Justice Charleton in a recent judgment in a firearms case in which he stated he was surprised the Oireachtas had not addressed the issue of firearms. Remarks on the issue made by a number of Deputies on the other side reflect my concerns. The increasing prevalence of handguns has not come about as a result of any deliberate policy decision by the Government or the House. This situation is clearly unsatisfactory and I will bring forward effective proposals to deal comprehensively with the issue.

There is no excuse for the type of gangland activities we have witnessed. Members of gangs bear complete personal responsibility for their deeds. It is not a contradiction to point out that in the longer term we risk condemning future generations if we do not face up to the deep-seated social problems which have beset parts of Limerick. In recognition of this my Department was instrumental in initiating and supporting the Limerick regeneration project led by Mr. John Fitzgerald. The Secretary General of my Department was in Limerick today making a presentation to the board of the regeneration project.

I do not stand before the House to claim our criminal justice system is perfect and does not need change. For my part, I pledge, as Minister, to keep under constant and intensive review all aspects of the operation of the criminal justice system and continue to bring forward whatever changes are sensible and required. However, it serves only to demoralise those in the front line who have to face down the evil doers in our midst not to recognise what has been achieved to date. It is against that background that I commend the amendment to the House.

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