asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the number of reported assaults during the last 12 months, for which statistics are available, in which knives were used; if he has any proposals to outlaw the carrying of knives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reported Assaults.
14.
As I have informed the House on a number of occasions recently, a Bill which will deal with offensive weapons is being drafted and I hope to be in a position to introduce this legislation before the next session. The need for controls on the carrying of knives will be addressed in the Bill.
Can the Minister say whether assaults involving the carrying of knives have increased in recent times?
I would say the answer would be yes.
The number of indictable offences involving knives from 1 January 1987 to 30 October 1987 is 115 and in 1988 it is 120, an increase of 4 per cent. These are particularly frightening crimes and constitute a frightening development. Overall, these crimes account for 0.8 per cent of all crime.
I am glad to note that the Minister regards these offences as particularly objectionable and brutal. Will the Minister confirm that the provisions of the Bill he mentions will render it an offence to carry a knife unless a person in possession of one can give a valid explanation as to why he is doing so?
It would not be appropriate for me to discuss details of the proposed Bill in advance of Government approval. The Bill will be introduced very shortly, when it will be possible to discuss the matter in detail. The Deputy can be assured that the kind of offence he has in mind is one that the Minister would have in mind also.
While I appreciate that the Minister cannot go into the details of the proposed Bill now, may I have an assurance from him that its provisions will outlaw the carrying of knives? Would he agree with me that this practice, which is on the increase, simply is not acceptable in a civilised society?
In general terms this would be one of the purposes of the provisions of the Bill in question.
Since the Minister says it is the intention of the Department of Justice to introduce legislation outlawing offensive weapons would he ensure, in so far as possible, that a particularly vicious weapon, in the form of a crossbow, will be covered by its provisions having regard to a number of incidents which have taken place in the past six months when animals were viciously slaughtered by crossbows and, more recently, in Dublin where a citizen was seriously wounded by a crossbow? Will the Minister ensure that crossbows are covered in any relevant legislation?
That is a separate question.
I can volunteer the information. The legislation which the Minister for Justice proposes will deal with offensive weapons generally, including knives, stun guns, crossbows and so on.