Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

As to the effectiveness of the campaign, only time will tell. Obviously, knife crime continues. There is a problem with a knife. In the Department we examined whether there was any way of banning knives as offensive weapons. The fact is that a knife from any kitchen press is a dangerous implement. An innocent knife used for cutting bread can become an offensive weapon within seconds. It would be impractical, therefore, to ban knives or, as somebody suggested, to ban "sharp pointed" knives in this country. We considered increasing sentences which would send out a very strong signal. To the best of my knowledge that legislation is being drawn up.

As a representative of an urban area, I can understand the issue to which the Deputy referred, namely, that some people believe the criminal justice system has left them behind. There are the 100 youth diversion projects throughout the country, mostly in urban disadvantaged areas. These are successful as I know from my own constituency. There are people outside such activities, however, and no matter what one does with them, they will still indulge in crime. The campaign was designed to try to suggest to young people that it is not cool to put a knife in one's pocket when one goes out at night. The minute a person has a knife and is known to have one others on the opposite side of a gang will also bring a knife.

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