Mr. Jeff McCann:

I thank the Chairman and the committee for giving me the time to take part in this meeting. I would like to describe my personal background, my involvement in the sport of target shooting and some of the issues of the proposed legislation we are discussing.

I am a type 1 diabetic. I used to be a scout leader, undertook many outdoor pursuits and used to play rugby. Due to diabetic complications I am now unable to take part in a number of these competitions. As a challenge, and to get myself out of the house, a few years ago I took up clay pigeon shooting and moved on into target shooting for the camaraderie of getting out of the house and working with people. That has moved on and I have now become an honorary treasurer of the Munster Target Shooting Club. We are a not-for-profit organisation and as part of this role, I am responsible for the organisation of our club training days and competitions. We are associated with NASRPC, with Mr. Topes here, and we undertake a large amount of safety training with all our new members. That covers things like handling firearms, storage when off the range, travelling to and from the range, and range operations - what people need to do when they are actually on the range. We also run mandatory safety refresher courses for all members on an annual basis. Safety is very much the most important thing while on the range.

We are comprised of over 50 current members, shooting in a variety of disciplines, including bench-rest rifle and pistol, WA1500 competitions and local competitions within the club. We are also part of the Munster League and are involved national competitions. I have also shot at some international competitions with a small-bore pistol. Target shooting is the only sport I am aware of where those over 17, male or female, disabled or able-bodied, or of any nationality, can compete together on equal terms. In my time with the club, we have supported disabled shooters, people in wheelchairs. We have had everybody from novices - 14 year-olds with their fathers on a training licence learning how to fire a bolt-action shotgun - right through to Irish champions who have competed internationally. We also have a number of club members who are in their 80s and still competing successfully. The phrase, "right through from the docker to the doctor" is used within the organisation. There is a very strong community spirit, bringing these disparate members of society together through their love of the sport.

On the issue of firearms licensing in general, there has been a discussion around the statistics used in the discussion document. We have to agree that gun crime is a worldwide issue, however illegal acquisition of illegally-held firearms is usually via organised crime gangs and has nothing to do with the sporting community. As an example, quoting Deputy Niall Collins' piece in the Limerick Leader a couple of weeks ago, "a strategy focused on policing that targets known offenders" has led to the murder rate in the Limerick region dropping from six murders in 2008 to no recorded murders in 2014, purely through focusing on organised crime. The report and recommendations of November 2014 - the document that was provided - gave no statistics pointing towards legally-held firearms being lost or stolen, be it from registered firearms dealers, members of the Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces, or the civilian population. It is very hard to work out from the numbers that are cited what is actually relevant for the sporting population. Nor does the report provide any evidence of illegal acts committed, with the exception of the Corbally brothers. While a tragic event, it has been reported in the Heraldthat the firearm in that case was stolen outside the jurisdiction and would never have been classified as an illegally-held firearm in the Republic of Ireland.

Firearms licensing is a civil, not a criminal matter. I have never received as much as a parking ticket in my life and to be dealt with in this matter under criminal legislation is unusual. Looking at other European countries, in Germany the issue is dealt with by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, not the Federal Criminal Police Office or BKA. I believe the Garda Síochána should have a veto on a person possessing firearms certificates, however it should pertain to the person, not against individual firearms as is currently the case.

I would like to see a meaningful consolidation of the legislation. It is very complex at the moment to try and work out anything. It is very disjointed. I would also like to see a progressive, logical firearms policy implemented. I believe firearms licensing is a civil matter and should be dealt with as such.

Firearms licensing is a civil matter, not a criminal one, and I query whether it should be managed by criminal law legislation. We should look at best practice elsewhere. For example, in Germany, the municipal authorities deal with firearms licensing, while in Northern Ireland 15,000 short firearms are held legally.

I thank the Chairman and all members of the committee for giving me this chance to address them on this matter. I hope and trust we can work together to find an amicable and safe method of continuing the sport of target shooting in this country.