Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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583. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to introducing a nationwide weapons amnesty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39707/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that An Garda Síochána tackles the issue of illegal weapons on a daily basis at both local and national levels through a range of targeted and intelligence based operations, often disrupting and preventing incidents, as well as detecting and prosecuting those involved.

There was such a firearms amnesty for a two month period in late 2006 but that was in the context of new licensing arrangements being introduced and represented an opportunity for people to regularise their situation before the heavier penalties provided for in the legislation came into force. It is doubtful that such an amnesty would result in hardened criminals handing up weapons. Obviously, any weapons which were used in a criminal offence which is under investigation would need to be excluded from any amnesty. Equally, I am not convinced it is desirable to allow people who hold firearms illegally to evade the legal consequences for that.

In regard to other weapons such as knives, the consistent expert advice from An Garda Síochána is that such an amnesty is not likely to yield any significant benefits. Indeed, in many instances, ordinary household/kitchen knives are used in knife crimes and it has not been the experience that knives of this type are handed in during any amnesty.

I will however, continue to keep this matter under review.