Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for allowing me to sit in on the committee. I am sorry I could not make it this morning but I would welcome the opportunity to make a couple of brief points and ask a couple of questions. The input of this committee is very important and I welcome the work it is doing on this because it will bring a balance to the debate, which is very important. Ultimately, this whole thing is very subjective. Much of the concern I have with the report from the Garda and with what has happened in the past and all the litigation is subjective in terms of interpreting what is there already and what could change. Deputy Mac Lochlainn's point was that perception and use of language are important, as has been accepted. The people in Harbour House Sports Club, my local club, and in others, who take their sport and their responsibilities dealing with firearms very seriously, are being portrayed as gun-toting irresponsible citizens. That is a problem and that is where the use of language is very important.