Mr. Declan Keogh:

I would like to make two points, one of which is in response to the question Deputy Kenny asked about assault rifles. It is very important to point out that semi-automatic centre fire rifles are classified as restricted firearms, therefore, an individual who applies for a semi-automatic licence is required to have a much higher standard of requirement for that particular firearm than would be the case for a standard firearm. I do not believe that has been emphasised by An Garda Síochána. It is akin to a licence for a pistol of higher calibre in that they must make an application to the chief superintendent, and they must show single cause for having that particular firearm. I do not believe these licences have been given out lightly and, therefore, I strongly contend that they should remain.

The second point is that I live in north County Dublin and I empathise with what was said about the loss of life. It is regrettable. I take grave exception to the contention and the evidence given by Chief Superintendent Healy in which he described that the Garda was unable to separate the potential that a licensed firearm might be used in crime because it had not been recovered. I refer back to the 2006 legislation. It is disingenuous because within the 2006 legislation there is a facility for An Garda Síochána to test ballistically and ballistically signature each firearm in this country. In that regard I refer to Northern Ireland where more than 13,500 handguns are licensed. Every licence for a handgun in Northern Ireland requires the owner to hand it in for ballistic testing. That means that the bullet and the cartridge are kept on file. That means it is digitally retrievable and can be identified. At a crime scene, therefore, if a bullet is recovered it can then be matched against the bank of lawfully held firearms to rule out the implication that any firearm has been used in the crime.

I keep changing my numbers but we know the number is vast in regard to handguns in Northern Ireland. The PSNI has never discovered a lawfully held pistol having been used in crime that was not stolen. From the point of view of the evidence given by the Garda Síochána, it has it in its gift to ballistically test the approximately 600 centre fire firearms. We should make no mistake that into the future it will have no problem ensuring that it can guarantee that the firearm used in the crime was not legally held. I strongly contend that is the case.