Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2006
458 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if reports have been received of persons carrying guns as a form of fashion accessory; if so, the nature of these reports; if carrying guns has become so prevalent as to require special consideration by the Government and Houses of the Oireachtas. [2766/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda authorities that they have no intelligence which indicates that persons are carrying guns as a form of fashion accessory. As the Deputy will be aware, any person wishing to possess, carry or use a firearm must obtain a firearms certificate from a Garda superintendent and comply with specific requirements under the Firearms Acts 1925 to 2000. Any person found in possession of, carrying or using a firearm in contravention of the Firearms Acts is subject, on conviction, to a fine of up to €635 or imprisonment of up to a maximum of five years or both. In this regard, I wish to inform the Deputy that, in the context of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004, which is currently before the House, I propose to bring forward a wide range of amendments which will strengthen the law governing the control of firearms. Included in these proposals are measures which will introduce new offences concerning the modification of firearms such as "sawing off" a shotgun; increase the fines and penalties generally for offences under the Firearms Acts; and create mandatory minimum sentences, of between five and ten years, for certain firearms offences, including possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, possession of a firearm with criminal intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, possession of a firearm while hijacking a vehicle, and use or production of a firearm to resist arrest.
I also propose providing a statutory basis for an amnesty during which firearms may be surrendered to the Garda Síochána before new penalties and minimum mandatory sentences are introduced. The amnesty will enable those in possession of firearms who are not in compliance with the legal requirements to regularise their position, and thus enable the Garda Síochána to concentrate on more serious offenders.
