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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 4

Written Answers. - Firearms Offences.

Richard Bruton

Question:

202 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total number of charges brought against persons under section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990; the total number of cases in which a successful conviction was obtained; the penalties imposed by the courts for offences of this nature; his proposals to update the law in respect of the possession of knives and dangerous weapons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20728/02]

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the numbers for the past four years, for which statistics are available, of proceedings commenced and convictions obtained under section 9(1), 9(4) and 9(5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, are as set out in the tables below.

Section 9(1) – Possession of knives and other articles

Year

Proceedings commenced

Convictions

1997

1,092

754

1998

889

666

1999

925

625

2000

832

555

Section 9(4) – Possession of flick-knife

Year

Proceedings commenced

Convictions

1997

109

87

1998

106

69

1999

85

55

2000

219

115

Section 9(5) – Possession of article intended to injure

Year

Proceedings commenced

Convictions

1997

310

187

1998

294

181

1999

243

157

2000

294

164

The Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, contains a number of controls regarding the availability and possession of offensive weapons and other articles. Obviously, this legislation recognises that there are various purposes for the possession of knives and only penalises in cases where they are carried for no good reason. Section 9 of the Act provides that it is an offence to have any knife or any other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed in any public place without such good reason or lawful authority. The penalty on summary conviction for this offence is a fine up to €1,270 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both. I have no plans to amend existing legislation in this area.
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