MINISTER FOR Justice Dermot Ahern said that the Government's priority was to rid society of illegal handguns.

"The stark reality is that there is a growing gun culture in this State which has, inevitably, had fatal consequences," he said.

He reiterated his intention to introduce legislation in the new year banning handguns.

The Minister was responding to special notice questions on the murder of Aidan O'Kane in Dublin last weekend. He said that while he was greatly constrained in what he could say about the incident, his death was deplored by all right-minded people.

Mr Ahern said that since his appointment as Minister for Justice, he had expressed concern about the number of handguns that had been licensed in the State since 2004.

He was aware, he added, that the vast majority of licensed firearms holders pursued their interest legitimately.

"I am also conscious that many of them deeply resent any connection that is made to the issue of licensed handguns in the context of our crime problem," he added.

"However, as Minister with responsibility for justice, I cannot avoid the reality that the overall number of weapons in circulation, and the type of these weapons, add to that gun culture."

The specific problem, he said, was demonstrated by the fact that 27 licensed handguns had been stolen since 2005 and a further 1,236 other firearms had been stolen during the same period, with a total of 373 recovered.

Fine Gael spokesman Charlie Flanagan said that nine months ago, following the savage and brutal murder of two Polish persons in Dublin, the House had held a day-long debate. However, the situation had deteriorated, not only in Dublin, but also in other urban areas since then.