Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of persons here who died in the period 1 January 2010 to 30 September 2010 as a consequence of being shot, being stabbed and of other violent action and to further detail the number of deaths he believes to be directly associated with the actions of feuding drug gangs and the number of prosecutions to-date which have been initiated as a consequence of such deaths [39465/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am, of course, deeply concerned about the incidence of murders and I deplore all such killings. All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of rigorous investigation by An Garda Síochána and will continue to be so. In setting the policing priorities for An Garda Síochána in 2010, I asked the Commissioner to continue the focus of the force on serious crime, in particular organised crime. This priority is also reflected in the Garda policing plan for this year, and specific initiatives, including under Operation Anvil and involving members of the Emergency Response Unit, have been put in place. An Garda Síochána will continue to develop and implement strategies to dismantle and disrupt criminal networks and to use a multi-agency approach.

While An Garda Síochána have made significant progress in the investigation of a number of killings, the reality is that there can be considerable difficulties in obtaining evidence in shootings which are the result of gangland activities from associates of a victim of a gangland killing, or indeed from gangland figures even when they themselves are the victims of violence. It has also to be accepted that there is often no connection or personal association between the victim and the perpetrator, which makes it very difficult for An Garda Síochána in their investigation of such a murder. Witnesses may also be subject to high levels of intimidation not to come forward, and it is to assist such witnesses that the Witness Protection Programme is in place.

It was in that overall context that I introduced greatly strengthened legislation in the area of organised crime which is being fully utilised by An Garda Síochána, including the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009, the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Criminal Procedure Act 2010. In addition, there are very severe penalties for firearms offices in place under the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Legislation on the use of knives and similar weapons is also extremely robust and heavy penalties are in place.

I have introduced further significant legislative proposals in the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill, and I will not hesitate to introduce additional measures if that becomes necessary. In addition, I have 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.

All cases of murder where proceedings have not yet been taken remain under active investigation. The detection rate by its nature increases over time as Garda investigations progress. It is expected that the number of convictions obtained will increase as Garda investigations are concluded and proceedings commenced are finalised by the courts. This applies particularly to murders committed in the current year. In addition, directions may be received from the Law Officers to charge persons arrested in connection with such incidents with offences other than murder, for example firearms offences. Furthermore, such persons charged and brought before the courts may be convicted of offences other than murder.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that during the period 1 January to 25 October, 2010, the most recent date for which figures are available, 42 murders involving firearms, knives or other instruments or physical violence were recorded. Of these, the Garda authorities have designated 15 as being gang related. A total of 42 proceedings, for a range of offences, have been initiated arising from a number of the 42 killings.