Alan Farrell
Ceist:
157. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases brought against persons with regard to needle-spiking, in 2021 and 2022, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58331/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once it is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 23 November 2022 where you sought:
“To ask the Minister for Justice the number of cases brought against persons with regard to needle-spiking, in 2021 and 2022, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”
As you will recall, Minister McEntee sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand. The delay in responding to you is regretted.
Spiking someone by injection is obviously a very serious offence. Spiking is, in effect, poisoning and is a criminal offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, that can result in a three year prison term.
I can assure the Deputy that any incident of this type of crime, including those with evidence to suggest a link with ‘spiking’, will be investigated by either local Gardaí supported by, or attached to, Divisional Protective Services Units.
As the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the direction of investigation priorities and the management of the PULSE system. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I am informed by the Garda Authorities that as of 04 December 2022 there have been no Charge Sheets or Summons created in relation to incidents of ‘needle spiking’ reported in An Garda Síochána since 01 January 2021.
