Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the figures for knife crime convictions from 2020 to 2024; if he is considering progressing legislation similar to the UK's !stop and search" campaign to deter knife crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12429/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Part 9 of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 amended the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 to increase the sentences for a number of offences under the 1990 Act related to knife crime.

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 five years to seven years imprisonment. The maximum penalty for the offence of manufacturing, importing, selling, hiring or lending offensive weapons increased from seven years to ten years.

I have been informed by the Courts Service that, owing to the changes to the law during 2024, a complete report of the figures for the years in question is not available.I can however inform the Deputy that there were a total of 4,323 convictions recorded in the District Court for offences under sections 9, 10 and 11 of the 1990 Act for the years 2020 to 2024.

In terms of 'stop and search', it is important to note that Garda members already have the power to stop and search a person whom they suspect may be carrying a knife or other weapon. However, the powers of search for Gardaí are spread across a number of legislative instruments and some are grounded in common law rulings. I intend to bring forward the Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill to the House, which will codify these powers from across the statute book into a single Act, making it easier for Garda members and the public to know under what legislation a search is being undertaken.