Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

It is important that we accept this fact, in confronting the figures and in taking the necessary measures to deal with them. I recently tabled a parliamentary question requesting the number of murders recorded in the last ten years in which a firearm was used and the number which resulted in proceedings and convictions. The figures confirmed the point I am making. In the years 1998 to 2009, the number of murders recorded were four in 1998; 12 in 1999; 12 in 2000; nine in 2001; ten in 2002; 19 in 2003; eight in 2004; 22 in 2005; 26 in 2006; 18 in 2007; 21 in 2008; and 11 in 2009 to date. The conviction rate is very worrying. The conviction figures for the same period are: one in 1998; five in 1999; one in 2000; one in 2001; three in 2002; one in 2003; three in 2004; two in 2005; two in 2006; and none in 2007, 2008 or 2009. In those ten years, firearms were used in 172 murders resulting in 19 convictions.

There is something seriously wrong here.

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