asked the Minister for Justice the number of people charged, the nature of the offence, the number of people convicted and the sentences rendered under each of the following Acts since 1972 or the date of enactment: Offences Against the State Act, 1939; Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1972; Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976; Prohibition of Forcible Entry and Occupation Act, 1971; Criminal Law Act, 1976; Emergency Powers Act, 1976.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Crime Statistics.
6.
Since 1st January, 1972, 462 persons have been charged and 328 persons have been convicted of offences under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939; eight persons have been charged and seven persons convicted of offences under the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1972; and 175 persons have been charged and 144 persons convicted of offences under the Prohibition of Forcible Entry and Occupation Act, 1971. There have been no prosecutions under the Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976 or under the Criminal Law Act, 1976. No offences were created by the Emergency Powers Act, 1976. Compilation of the other details sought by the Deputy would entail the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time.
7.
asked the Minister for Justice the annual number of incidents of bombing, arson, robbery, assault, hijacking or other crimes since 1st January, 1972 which his Department believe are related to terrorist activity; and the number of people charged and the number of people convicted in connection with these crimes.
Crime statistics are not, and in the nature of things cannot be, compiled on a basis which would provide the sort of information sought by the Deputy. The question of whether a particular crime constitutes, or is related to, terrorist activity involves not only an analysis and assessment of the motives of the perpetrator or perpetrators but also a definition of what in fact is meant by the term "terrorist activity". Even if the difficulties inherent in such an exercise could be overcome and an acceptable assessment made in relation to crimes for which those responsible have been detected, there is no way in which such an assessment could be made in relation to crimes as yet undetected.