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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Ivor Callely

Question:

260 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will advise on the progress of the research programme as recommended in the Patten report on the use of plastic baton rounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2351/01]

The Government shares the widespread concerns about deaths and serious injuries which have resulted from the use of plastic baton rounds – PBRs – in Northern Ireland and has consistently urged the need for stricter controls and maximum restraint to curtail the use of these bullets to the greatest possible extent.

The Government welcomed the recommendation in the report of the Patten Commission that a research programme be conducted to find "acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternatives" to PBRs. Patten also recommended that the use of PBRs should be subject to the same procedures of deployment, use and reporting as the rest of the UK. Further, their use should be confined to the smallest number of specially trained officers and should be justified in a report to the policing board, copied to the police ombudsman.

The British Government accepted the recommendation, and the draft implementation plan published in June 2000 stated that the research programme would be launched that month. In the context of a British parliamentary reply in July 2000 it was announced that a steering group to lead the research programme had been established, and the phases of the programme were outlined as follows. The first phase is a literature review, which is due to be completed shortly. The second phase will be an evaluation of the review, and the preparation of a business case, and the third will be to carry out further research. The final phase will be a definition of "operational objectives for public order equipment".

A revised implementation plan will be published shortly and is expected to indicate the next stages to be taken on the issue. We look forward to a speedy conclusion of the first phase of the research programme and to rapid progress on the next stages.

Question No. 261 answered with Question No. 100.

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