§ 7.24 p.m.
§ Lord MELCHETT moved, That the Firearms (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, laid before the House on 18th August, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Order-in-Council amends the Firearms Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 by raising certain maximum penalties on indictment for offences related to the illegal possession of firearms. The order was made on 17th August 1976 under the procedure provided for by paragraph 1(4)(b) of 1218 Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974 under which, for reasons of urgency, an order can be made without a draft having been approved by a Resolution of each House of Parliament, subject to subsequent approval by Resolution of each House within a prescribed period. In another place, my right honourable friend the Attorney-General announced on 2nd July 1976 that, on examination of the penalties prescribed by the Firearms Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, it was considered that some were quite inadequate and should be increased.
§ Three particular offences are affected by this order: first, carrying a loaded firearm in a public place; second, trespassing with a firearm in a building; and, third, possessing a firearm or ammunition in suspicious circumstances. The maximum penalties on indictment for these offences are now doubled from five years to 10 years.
§ I do not need to remind noble Lords of the considerable extent to which the carrying of illegal firearms contributes to the violence in Northern Ireland. It is often the case that the only offences for which people carrying illegal firearms can be charged when apprehended are offences under the Firearms Act, and this is why we feel it is necessary to increase the maximum penalties laid down in this Act.
§ The Government's policy, as noble Lords will know, is to deal with anyone committing a criminal offence in Northern Ireland through the courts. Under these circumstances it is essential that penalties which the courts can impose should be kept constantly under review, and adjusted if necessary. That is what we are doing here. The penalties not affected by this order are considered adequate. A number were increased as recently as last year in the Firearms (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1975.
§ At a time when people are dying almost daily as a result of the illegal use of firearms, noble Lords will I am sure appreciate the need for this order, and the reasons why it was made without a draft being previously laid before them for approval.
§ My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ Moved, That the Firearms (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, laid before the House on 18th August, be approved.—(Lord Melchett.)