Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Use of Syringes in Crime.

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

609 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the increase in the use of syringes with hypodermic needles, in the commission of robberies, aggravated burglaries, muggings, assaults and injuries to gardaí; the plans, if any, she has to introduce legislation to specifically cover the carrying and use of syringes in view of the 53 per cent increase in recorded statistics of the use of syringes in crime between the years 1993 and 1995; whether 67 per cent of the 12 months total for 1995 for the use of syringes in crime was already recorded in the first half of 1996; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15535/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

I am aware of the increase in the use of syringes as a weapon in the commission of an offence.

While there is no specific offence of using a syringe as a weapon, the criminal law already includes penalties up to life imprisonment for offences involving the use of a syringe in the course of committing a robbery or other offence. The possession of a syringe in a public place is also prohibited under the Firearms and Offences Weapons Act, 1990.

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