Vol. 470 No. 4
238 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Justice if she intends to initiate a Bin Your Blade Campaign as outlined by Deputy Mr. E. Ryan at a recent press conference and which has been successfully undertaken by the police in England. [19448/96]
The Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990, and the 1991 Offensive Weapons Order made under that Act, prohibits the manufacture, sale, hire or loan of a wide range of offensive weapons. The Act also provides that it is an offence to have in a public place, a knife or any other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed, unless the person has a good reason or lawful authority to have same.
I have noted the Deputy's concerns on this matter. It is, however, a matter which requires careful consideration both by my Department and the Garda authorities.
There is, on the face of it, considerable merit in this suggestion but there is a number of issues to be considered first in relation to it. They have to do, inter alia, with a potential for disposal of evidence, the prospect of success and whether an amnesty is appropriate where some of such weapons may have been used in very serious crime. I propose to keep the matter under review, in consultation with the Garda Commissioner.
