Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of firearms seized in each year since and including 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7297/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of firearms seized in each year from 2005 to 2012.

Number of Firearms Seized in Each Year from 2005 to 2012.

An Garda Síochána's Policing Plan for 2013 reflects the priorities which I have set for the current year and includes as a strategic goal the objective of confronting serious crime in all its forms, including armed crime. Gardaí employ multi-disciplinary, intelligence-led approaches to ensure the activities and resources of individuals and groups involved in all such criminal enterprises are effectively targeted. A wide range of legislative powers are in place to support the investigation and detection of serious crime, including by means of covert surveillance, and very serious penalties have been introduced for firearms offences. The Firearms Acts are kept under review in the interests of public safety and law enforcement. In this regard, the Deputy may also wish to note that Weapons and Explosives Offences fell by 17.4% in the most recent published crime statistics from the Central Statistics Office.