asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the number of serious injuries arising out of stabbing incidents, he will consider restricting, except under permit, the sale of flick knives and other knives of a dangerous character.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Knives.
26.
This suggestion would, of course, require legislation. I am not satisfied that it is practicable to improve the position by new legislation at the present time.
As was mentioned in reply to previous similar questions, the evidence available from the Garda Síochána is that flick knives are very seldom used in stabbing incidents in this country and there is no reason to think that they are carried to any significant extent. A comprehensive check made a while ago showed that in a two-year period knives were used in a criminal way on 30 occasions and on only one of these occasions was a flick knife used. A recent spot check of eight stabbing incidents in the last twelve months shows that in five cases the knives used were penknives; in two others the knives were butchers' knives and the report did not show what kind of knife was used in the other case.
It cannot be assumed that legislation would have any effect even in relation to the very few cases where a flick knife is used. There is no reason to think that, in these cases, the culprit would not carry some other, equally dangerous, knife if the flick knife were not available to him.
Legislation banning flick knives would be possible but, for the reasons I have given, it would be of little or no value. As regards other knives, I do not see how legislation could extend to them without serious interference with the rights of all those who need knives for a variety of legitimate reasons, and obviously no system of control would be effective. On the figures I have given, the legislation would need to control pen knives if it were to have any real effect.
It is the practice of the Garda Síochána to institute proceedings against persons found in possession of flick knives where the evidence points to their being carried with criminal intent.