Written answers

Thursday, 7 October 2010

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Control of Firearms

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the action he has taken to prevent the importation of arms such as the Ingram submachine gun; the extent if any to which steps have been taken to prevent any recurrences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35403/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In setting the policing priorities for An Garda Síochána in 2010, I have asked the Commissioner to continue the focus of the force on serious crime, in particular organised crime. This priority is reflected in the Garda Policing Plan for this year, which sets out a commitment to proactively target groups and individuals engaged in organised crime. To this end, An Garda Síochána is conducting intelligence-led operations focusing on organised crime groups in the greater Dublin area and in other cities. As a result of these operations, a number of individuals are before the courts charged with serious offences concerning the sale and supply of arms. There operations include Operation Anvil. Since its commencement, over 1,400 firearms have been recovered in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and 1,800 outside it.

An Garda Síochána is utilising all available legislation in respect of tackling organised crime. The force will continue to develop and implement strategies to dismantle and disrupt criminal networks, utilising analytical and intelligence methods to facilitate targeted operations which prevent such crimes by early intervention.

An Garda Síochána is committed to tackling the illegal importation of firearms. Inter-agency co-operation is essential to this, and the Garda Organised Crime Unit maintains liaison with the PSNI and the UK Serious and Organised Crime Agency. An Garda Síochána also has liaison officers based in the UK, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal and officers seconded to Europol and Interpol. There is also strong inter-agency co-operation with the Revenue Commissioners and the Naval Service. As a result of this co-operation, Irish and international figures are being successfully targeted.

There are very severe penalties for firearms offences in place. The Criminal Justice Act 2006 introduced a wide range of provisions to combat gun crime. It introduced mandatory minimum sentences of five or 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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