Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 5

Written Answers. - Firearms Convictions.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

110 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who have been convicted under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, for the possession of offensive weapons in each of the years since the introduction of the Act; and the nature of the weapons seized by category. [11646/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Convictions for possession of offensive weapons contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990, for the years 1990-93 are not readily available and could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.

The statistics for 1994 and 1995 in so far as they are available are published in the Garda Síochána annual report, copies of which are available in the Oireactas Library. The annual report for 1996 is not yet available.