Written answers

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Firearms Licences

5:00 pm

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 24: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of handguns that have been reported as stolen each year for the years 2004 to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47137/08]

Photo of John DeasyJohn Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals in respect of prohibiting handguns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47148/08]

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his legislative and action based plans to clamp down on the growing prevalence of firearms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46624/08]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 43 and 54 together.

The Garda Commissioner informs me that 31 legally held handguns have been stolen since the start of 2004. The breakdown by year is as follows:

YearHandguns recorded as stolen
20084
20076
200611
20057
20043
*Figures provided are provisional/operational and liable to change.

As the Deputy is aware, for over 30 years prior to 2004, it was policy not to license handguns in this jurisdiction. Following a series of judicial decisions, that is no longer the case and approx. 1,800 handguns have been licensed since then.

Since my appointment I have expressed concern at the number of handguns which have been licensed here in recent years. I am aware that the vast majority of licensed firearms holders pursue their interests legitimately. I am conscious too that many of them deeply resent any connection that is made to the issue of licensed handguns in the context of our crime problem. But as Justice Minister I cannot avoid the reality that the overall number of weapons in circulation and the type of those weapons can add to a gun culture. Indeed the issue of handguns was highlighted by Mr Justice Peter Charleton in a judgement during the summer when he said that a reasonable person is entitled to feel alarmed at the proliferation of handguns.

My proposals for reform in this area include a ban on issuing new licences for handguns, although there will be limited exceptions in relation to Olympic sports. Those who have licences already can, when they are due for renewal, apply to have them renewed under a new licensing procedure where the safety of the community will be paramount. Together with the Garda Commissioner I will keep under annual review the outcome of the licensing procedure and, if the outcome leaves a situation which still poses an unacceptable risk to the community, will use new powers to ban particular types of firearm.

These proposals will be given legislative form in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which I will be publishing early in the new year.

The House may note the recent endorsement of these proposals by the Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate who draws on her own considerable experience of policing in the United States. She has recently been quoted as saying that a lot of guns used in the commission of crime in the States are guns that have been stolen from their rightful owners. We must have controls in place to prevent the same thing happening here.

As to illegally held firearms — however obtained — members from all sides of the House will agree that a priority of the criminal justice system is to rid society of illegal weapons. This objective has been at the core of Operation Anvil since it was established in 2005. Under that Operation up to 30 November, 2008 over 1,200 firearms have been recovered in Dublin and almost 1,000 in the rest of the country. The Gardaí will continue to address the issue of illegal guns relentlessly.

It should be noted that a wide range of provisions to combat gun crime were introduced in the Criminal Justice Act 2006. That Act introduced mandatory minimum sentences of between five and ten years for certain firearms offences, including possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, possession of a firearm with criminal intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm while hijacking a vehicle, use of a firearm to resist arrest and a new offence of altering a firearm.

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