Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of reported gun crimes including killings in each of the past three years; the extent to which successful prosecutions have followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21795/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of headline offences where a firearm was involved from 2000 to 2004 is as set out in the table below. With regard to the extent of the number of successful prosecutions, as the Deputy is aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is statutorily independent in the performance of his function and it would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment on his decisions. Furthermore, judges are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and subject only to the Constitution and the law. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on their decisions also.

Figures provided for 2004 are provisional and liable to change.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of cash stolen in robberies since the beginning of 2005; the amount recovered to date; the extent of the number of successful prosecutions arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21796/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested is as set out in the following table. It covers the three robbery offences of robbery from the person, robbery from an establishment-institution and robbery of cash-goods in transit. It should be noted that many of the proceedings commenced have not yet been completed.

With regard to the extent of the number of successful prosecutions, as the Deputy is aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is statutorily independent in the performance of his function and it would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment on his decisions. Furthermore, judges are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and subject only to the Constitution and the law. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on their decisions also. I should mention that the figures relate to robberies within this jurisdiction. However, approximately €4 million has been recovered by the Garda Síochána which it is believed relates to the Northern Bank robbery.

Figures provided are provisional/operational and liable to change.