Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of homicides that have taken place in which a firearm was used in 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47706/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Tackling gun crime and tightening gun controls are key priorities for this government. Against that background it is regrettable that the Deputy's Party has actively opposed legislative proposals to tackle gang land crime and tighten gun-controls. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were in total 86 cases of murder in which a firearm was used from 2006 to 2008 and in 2009 up to 6 December.

Our criminal law has been significantly strengthened in recent years. Many of these changes are targeted at fighting gangland crime. The Criminal Justice Acts of 2006 and 2007, in particular, introduced wide ranging reforms to strengthen the capacity of An Garda Síochána to tackle serious crime. The bail laws have been strengthened to allow the prosecution mount a more effective challenge to bail applications. I have also secured Government approval to commence work on a new Bail Bill to consolidate and update bail law with a view to presenting a clear, accessible and modern statement of the law.

A significant further strengthening of the law dealing with those involved in criminal organisations took place with the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. Other significant pieces of legislation introduced to target organised crime include the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act, which provides a statutory framework for evidence obtained by means of covert surveillance to be used in criminal trials, and the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 which further tightens the legislative provisions relating to guns and knives and similar weapons.

A further important development, which is currently being progressed through the Houses of the Oireachtas, is 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 the ban on retrying people who have been acquitted in specified circumstances. I expect that the Criminal Justice (Forensic Sampling and Evidence) Bill, which will provide for the establishment and operation of a DNA database, will be published in the very near future.

Under Operation Anvil, up to 29 November, 2009, over 2,800 firearms have been recovered. There have also been over 8,700 arrests for serious crimes such as murder, serious assault, robbery and burglary and over 83,700 searches for weapons, drugs and stolen goods. An Garda Síochána will continue to address the issue of illegal guns relentlessly through Operation Anvil.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of homicides that have taken place in which a knife was used in 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47707/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Legislation on the use of knives and similar weapons is extremely robust and heavy penalties are in place. The Garda Commissioner last year made recommendations in relation to knives and sharply pointed or bladed weapons, and subsequently I introduced legislation which was enacted as the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. The maximum penalty for possessing a knife in a public place has been increased from one to five years, and An Garda Síochána has been given an extended power of search without warrant in relation to knives and offensive weapons. In tandem with the new legislation, samurai swords have been banned from importation and sale, though exceptions have been made for collectors and martial artists.

Last February, the Garda Commissioner and I launched a Knife Awareness Campaign by An Garda Síochána to inform and educate young people on the dangers of carrying knives and with the aim of reducing the number of incidents of knife crime. The campaign is targeting a young male audience with messages delivered through role models in both the sporting and media world and incorporating a series of local roadshow events as well a dedicated website and a presence on social networking sites.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table contains the number of murder and manslaughter offences involving the use of a knife recorded for the years 2006 to 2008 and in 2009 up to 13 December.

*Figures provided are provisional, operational and liable to change.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons charged with drug and drink driving in 2006, 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47708/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.