FIANNA Fail last night urged the Government to introduce stiffer prison sentences for syringe related crimes.
The party's justice spokesman, Mr John O'Donoghue, called for the introduction of mandatory sentences for syringe attacks. "Unless we nip them in the bud the increase in these syringe offences will get out of hand."
However, the Minister of State for Justice, Mr Bernard Durkan, said that imposing mandatory sentences would create "Constitutional difficulties".
Fianna Fail pushed the mandatory sentencing issue to a vote but was defeated in the debate on the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Bill, which passed all stages in the House.
Mr O'Donoghue said he disagreed that there would be a Constitutional difficulty in increases in summary convictions for syringe attacks from one to two years. `If a person injures another by piercing the skin of that person by a syringe or threatens that person with a syringe, they should on summary conviction be given a minimum sentence of 12 months and where the case is more serious they should get a minimum sentence of 12 years."
Referring to a section in the Bill which deals with harassment and "stalking", Mr O'Donoghue called for a 12 month sentence for summary conviction and five years on indictment.
Mr Durkan said the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, fully appreciated the situation which presented itself over the past number of years, he said. A need was being addressed by the Bill with the appropriate sentences and "the Minister and her officials do not believe it needs to go further".
The Progressive Democrats' justice spokeswoman, Ms Liz O'Donnell, welcomed the passage of the Bill and particularly commended the section on stalking and harassment.