Vol. 483 No. 6
366 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals, if any, he has to address the increasing number of syringe attacks on gardaí; if his attention has been drawn to the force's concerns in relation to the impact of the threat to the members of the force and the stress involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20973/97]
The Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, provides for a range of offences to combat criminal conduct involving syringes, including offences of possession of a syringe or container of blood with intent to threaten or injure, placing or abandoning a syringe in any place in a manner which injures or is likely to injure any person, injuring a person with a syringe or threatening to do so, and throwing or putting blood on another person or threatening to do so.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that guidelines are in place for members of the Garda who encounter drug addicts, prisoners and other individuals who may be in possession of syringes or needles. Other measures for the welfare of gardaí include the assignment of welfare officers to provide a confidential counselling service to members and a network of welfare committees — at national and divisonal level — to discuss matters pertaining to members' welfare. Gardaí can also avail of services of trained "Peer Supporters" whose role is to respond whenever a member is the victim of a traumatic incident. Finally, a working committee has recently been set up by the Commissioner to examine the necessity of having body armour available for use by gardaí in certain circumstances.
