Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for coming. It is interesting to look through the booklet of photographs handed out by the deputation. I note that one of the rifles is an Overland. I am mindful of one of the comments I read in a submission from a member of the public to the committee who referenced the fact that some assault rifles had a certain militaristic look when, in fact, they were not. One of the examples given was of a particular weapon used in Olympic shooting events. It has the look of a militaristic weapon. Having said that, I recently read about a shooting. As I was not familiar with the terminology used in the newspaper article, I looked up the particular weapon and found that it was a derivative or an offshoot of the M-16 machine gun, which I understand the American military used to and may still use. I was surprised to see Ireland included in the countries in which the weapon was licensed. I was taken aback by this. I imagine it is not commonly known that these weapons are readily available. I realise licensing is restricted and so on, but at the same time I do not see any place for such a weapon in Irish society.

I am keen to explore what Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn was talking about in terms of gun clubs and the storage of such weapons. I will tease out my idea or train of thought. With the exception of the pursuit of sport, I do not believe there is any place for handguns or small weapons of whatever size in private ownership. I go so far as to say I do not believe they should be on the street or in private ownership - period. However, I accept that there are those who will use them for sporting purposes, which I can accept. If I were to walk into the Courtlough gun club in north County Dublin and explain that I wanted to fire weapons or firearms of some sort and I was to be handed, say, a Glock, as far as I am concerned, that would be fine. That is why I asked the question about illegal weapons. I appreciate completely that it is almost impossible for the figure to be made available. However, for the purposes of this discussion it would be helpful if we had the best estimate of An Garda Síochána. The problem in this country does not stem from licensed firearms; the problem - albeit a limited one - is with unlicensed firearms. There have been tragic circumstances in recent decades in which persons have been murdered and some tragic incidents have occurred globally. In the Norwegian example it was a licensed weapon that was used.

Senator Martin Conway asked a question, not about revoking licences but the removal of weapons, that is, where a weapon is no longer legally held and An Garda Síochána removes it from a person because he or she is no longer licensed to hold it. The deputation referred to the revocation of licences and the courts processes involved. That question should be answered. How many weapons or firearms which are no longer licensed have been removed from the possession of a licensed owner? That is an important question.