Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 4

Written Answers. - Use of Offensive Weapons.

Liam Fitzgerald

Question:

62 Mr. L. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice the further consideration, if any, she has given to the crime of assault with blood-filled syringes by drug addicts and others in view of her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 6 on 11 May 1995; if she has studied the recommendations on the issue from the AGSI conference in Bundoran of 2 April 1996; and the immediate steps, if any, she will take to make it a serious criminal offence in view of the potentially harrowing and fatal consequences of this type of crime. [8442/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I am aware of and understand the concerns expressed by delegates to last months AGSI conference about the use of syringes as offensive weapons.

However, as I indicated in some detail in my reply to the Deputy's question on 11 May 1995 our criminal law already includes severe penalties for offences involving the use of a syringe in the course of committing a robbery or other offence and the possession of a syringe in a public place.

I am at present preparing legislation to reform the law relating to non-fatal offences against the person and if I believe that some further strengthening of the law in this area is required or would produce some actual benefit I will certainly consider it in that context.