Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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682. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the plans in conjunction with the Garda Commissioner to urgently tackle knife violence on our streets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7813/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I strongly condemn the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others. The Government is committed to ensuring that the problems that we have seen in neighbouring jurisdictions do not repeat themselves here.

There are no quick-fix solutions to tackling knife crime. Long term, evidence-based strategies are needed that address knife crime as part of a wider strategic response to anti-social behaviour, street violence, youth offending and domestic violence.

Knives may be used in the commission of many different types of offence, ranging from threats and intimidation, robbery and aggravated burglary to serious assaults and murder. There are many complex, interlinked and variable causes for the use of knives in the commission of offences.

There is already a comprehensive and robust legal framework in place in Ireland with respect to knife crime, including heavy penalties for breaches of the laws concerned with the maximum penalty for possessing a knife in a public place, without good reason or lawful authority, of five years. The Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill, which I intend to bring forward shortly, includes the power to stop and search a person or a vehicle, where a member of the Garda Síochána has a reasonable suspicion that a person is in possession of a knife.

The Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 was signed into law on 23 of July 2024. Part 9 of this Act, which increases the penalties for certain offences under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990, was commenced in September 2024.

The maximum penalty for the offences of possession of a knife with the intention of unlawfully intimidating or injuring another person, trespassing with a knife, and producing a knife while committing or appearing to be about to commit an offence, increased from 5 years to 7 years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for the offence of manufacturing, importing, selling, hiring or lending offensive weapons increased from 7 years to 10 years.

In addition, the Government doubled the maximum penalty for ‘assault causing harm’ under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 from 5 to 10 years imprisonment in 2023. While the more serious offence of ‘causing serious harm’ under section 4 of that Act already carries a potential life sentence, many assaults, including those involving knives, are prosecuted at a lower level. This increase ensures that courts have the necessary sentencing powers to reflect the severity and impact of such crimes.

I am also assured that Gardaí will continue with their proactive measures to tackle this issue, including their assault reduction strategy, which is targeted at tackling all types of assaults in public, including use of knives. This strategy is informed by a pro-arrest, early investigation and proactive high-visibility approach.