Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 3

Written Answers. - Violence in Dublin City.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

113 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Dublin city is experiencing more extreme levels of violence in terms of weapons, such as knives, hammers, guns or other weapons being used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13739/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that provisional figures for 1995 to date show that all categories of armed crime in Dublin, including robbery with firearms, armed aggravated burglary and aggravated burglary without firearms, have decreased as compared to the same period last year.

The increase in both manpower and hours of operation of the Cobra Unit in recent months has proven to be of enormous benefit in both detection and prevention of violent and armed crime in Dublin City and suburbs. In addition, the wide ranging powers and in particular the powers of arrest contained in both the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 and the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, are all proving to be most valuable in the prevention and detection of violent crime.