Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of firearms and knives surrendered under the recent amnesty by the closing date of 31 October 2006; if he is satisfied with the number of items surrendered; the steps taken to promote public knowledge of the amnesty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36244/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that due to a delay in some Garda Stations making their returns to Garda Headquarters, a conclusive figure of weapons surrendered under the recent Amnesty will not be available until later this week. However, to date 522 firearms and 82 knives, which were surrendered under the Amnesty, have been returned to Garda Headquarters.

A successful national awareness campaign was undertaken to promote the Amnesty. The campaign included advertisements in the national and provincial newspapers and specialist publications together with an extensive high visibility billboard campaign. In addition 20,000 information leaflets were printed and circulated through Garda Stations throughout the country and a website was launched to provide extensive on-line information in relation to the Amnesty.

I want to emphasis that I was never of the view that serious criminals were going to come into police stations and hand over their firearms. However, I was satisfied there were people with guns and offensive weapons in their possession who might find it embarrassing to come forward or to admit that they had them in the house and that the amnesty would afford them an opportunity to surrender such weapons safely. This indeed has proven to be the case.

The Weapons Amnesty has afforded people an opportunity to hand in illegally held firearms and other offensive weapons before the introduction of new stringent sentences for firearms offences. From here on, persons found in possession of illegal weapons will face very harsh penalties with the introduction of the mandatory minimum prison sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. From the 1st November, minimum mandatory sentences of up to 10 years, for a range of firearms offences, have come into operation. Only in exceptional and specific circumstances, and in the case of a first offence only, can the court exercise discretion to impose less than the minimum sentence. I am satisfied that the Amnesty has been a success and fully achieved its aims.