Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the Central Statistics Office crime figures for the first quarter of 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21491/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome many of the positive trends revealed by the statistics on recorded crime for the first quarter. Of the 14 crime groups for which statistics are given, ten show reductions. They are evidence of the focused deployment by the Garda Commissioner of the resources available to him. As well as ensuring that the level of frontline resources remains high, I am determined to continue with our programme of comprehensive criminal law reform. The challenges in crime prevention and detection are evolving continually and our response must recognise these challenges and respond accordingly.

I welcome, in particular, the continuing decrease in homicide offences, which dropped by 30.4%, compared to the same quarter last year. There were no cases of manslaughter, and there was a decrease of 77.8% in cases of dangerous driving leading to death. The number of murders increased by one, from 13 to 14.

While there was a minimal increase in the number of murders in the quarter, I am aware that the majority of these were carried out with firearms, which is a characteristic of gang-related murders. I am concerned at the level of serious crime for which organised crime is responsible, and I am continuing to work on strong legislative responses. I recently published the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill, which is currently going through the House. It will make a significant contribution to fighting gangland crime, by facilitating the use as evidence in trials of material gained by secret surveillance, while at the same time ensuring that the encroachment on certain rights relating to personal privacy and privacy of property which this entails is both limited and proportionate. It will apply, not only to the Garda Síochána, but also to the Defence Forces and the Revenue Commissioners.

Furthermore, the Government has approved my proposals for further measures, along the lines of those in place to deal with paramilitary groups, to tackle organised crime gangs, in particular their attempts to undermine the criminal justice system through extreme acts of violence and intimidation. The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill will be given priority in drafting. While I would like to see the Bill published this Dáil session, I acknowledge that there are complex legal and drafting issues to be addressed. I have published the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009 which will tighten the legislative provisions relating to guns and knives and similar weapons and which is currently before the House. A de facto handgun ban is already in force.

A further important development is the publication of the Criminal Procedure Bill 2009 which gives effect to the measures contained in the Justice for Victims Initiative. The Bill provides for reform of the law on victim impact statements and proposes to end, in specified circumstances, the ban on retrying people who have been acquitted. This will address situations where new evidence emerges about a person's involvement in an offence, or where the original trial was tainted by perjury or intimidation, or where the trial judge gave a mistaken ruling on a point of law which led to an acquittal. Work is also ongoing in relation to the creation of a DNA database. I also welcome the reduction of 28.9% in sexual offences in the first quarter. I also note the appearance of human trafficking offences in the statistics, following the enactment of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act last year.

There were small increases in the numbers of cases of discharging a firearm and possession of a firearm in the quarter, of 4.3% and 4.2% respectively. Detections of possession are predominantly the result of Garda enforcement, and the increase in the number of cases of discharging reflects the activities of criminal gangs which I am taking steps to combat. There was an increase of 33.3% in the number of fireworks offences, which follows modernisation of the law in this area and increased Garda enforcement, including during the new year period.

While there was a decrease of 15.2% in the number of cases of possession of drugs for sale or supply, the increases in the numbers of cases of possession for personal use (10.1%) and of cultivation or manufacture of drugs (79.3%) are related to increased enforcement activity. There was an increase of 26.2% in the number of cases of driving, or being in charge of, a vehicle while under the influence of drugs. This results from increasing Garda attention to this type of behaviour which is not only illegal but extremely dangerous to road users.