Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

As I said earlier, the Government put Operation Anvil in place in 2005 and gave the Garda Commissioner substantial resources for it each year since then. Indeed, at a time when less money is available for next year, I increased the overall budget for Operation Anvil from €20 million to €21 million. I specifically told the Garda Commissioner that the money had to be earmarked for organised crime and particularly the issue of the illegal gun culture. Look at the figures for the number of guns seized in the Dublin area. I have political and policy responsibility but ultimately it is an issue for the Garda, which has the resources. The gardaí are the people on the front line who have the responsibility of ridding our society of illegally held handguns. As I stated, the Garda seized 1,200 firearms in the Dublin metropolitan district and made 7,000 arrests for serious offences, including murder, serious assault, robbery and burglary. Since 2005, approximately 65,000 searches have been carried out and property to the value of €31 million has been recovered. That is what the Garda is doing on behalf of the State and the Government has provided it with the resources to enable it to perform these functions.

Neither the Government nor any Member on any side is complacent about murder. Nevertheless, crime statistics from the Central Statistics Office show a marked reduction in homicide offences in the third quarter of 2008. Percentage decreases have been recorded across the spectrum, with the number of murders, cases of dangerous driving leading to death and manslaughter all in decline. Year-on-year, homicide offences decreased by 50%, with the number of murders declining by 33%. The Government is not complacent in any shape or form, which is the reason, despite fewer resources, that I specifically earmarked resources for tackling crime, particularly organised crime and the gun culture.

Deputy Flanagan continually states that I am concentrating on licensed hand guns. As he will be aware, however, extremely tough provisions on the possession of illegal firearms, particularly handguns, have been in place since we made changes to the 2006 Act. Mandatory sentences of ten and five years are in force, depending on the type of offence. We must go further, particularly in view of comments made by Mr. Justice Peter Charlton in July and, more recently, Mr. Justice George Birmingham, who is not unknown to the Deputy. The latter, for example, referred to the reason certain people believe they need to have licensed handguns in their possession. The combination of illegal, licensed and so-called airsoft handguns will quickly give rise to a gun culture. We need to address this issue quickly. As policymakers, the Government, Members of the Oireachtas and I, as Minister, have a duty in this respect, which is the reason I asked for support on the issue. The Deputy should not speak out of both sides of his mouth on this matter.

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