Gay Mitchell
Question:4 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to control the sale of hunting knives and similar knives.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Hunting Knives.
The Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, amended and extended the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1971, to control the availability and possession of offensive weapons, including knives and other articles. The Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 (Offensive Weapons) Order, 1991, specifies descriptions of a large range of weapons whose manufacture, importation, sale, hire or loan is prohibited by virtue of the provisions of the Act.
I share the concern expressed in some quarters about the availability of hunting and other such like knives and in that regard I am considering what additional measures may be called for in relation to imposing further restrictions on their sale. I would be glad to hear of any proposals Deputies may have in this respect.
I think it would be useful to have a general review from time to time of the list of weapons which are proscribed by ministerial order and I propose to commence such a review immediately in conjunction with the Garda authorities.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am grateful to you for taking this question. Is the Minister aware that in my own constituency in just over a 12 month period two youths died, one recently, as a result of stabbing incidents? In view of the fact that there have been a number of other deaths arising from similar incidents, would the Minister agree that the supply of hunting knives across the counter to all and sundry is unacceptable and that there should be some form of control, perhaps a Garda certificate or to be accompanied by a parent, which would make it difficult for young people to buy these weapons across the counter?
I accept that we need to do something to try to ensure that young people who have no reason to have access to these knives do not have the option to purchase them across the counter. On the other hand, it is difficult to know what type of control one can impose. I do not want to deprive people who are genuinely in pursuit of their normal leisure activities or those who use certain types of knives in their business — for example, butchers and so on. I do not want to deprive those people of being able to purchase those knives. Further, I do not want to put a cumbersome identification system in place which at the end of the day would be difficult to implement and may not achieve its objectives, knowing how people can find loopholes. I share Deputy Mitchell's concerns and I am looking at the possibility of imposing further restrictions. As the Deputy will be aware, a comprehensive list of various implements, mostly combat weapons, are outlawed. There was no system in place where that could be reviewed on a yearly basis, but I am now putting that system in place because from time to time new weapons come on the market which were not thought of when that Act came into being.
Let us now proceed to other questions to the same Minister. Question No. 6 please.