Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I move amendment No. 104:

In page 44, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following:

"(15) Regulations under subsection (13) insofar as they determine standards by reference to subsection (14)(vi) shall have due regard to the need for shooting ranges to be used by persons who are in the process of acquiring competency in the use of firearms.".

The import of my amendment was again suggested by those who know in that they perceive a catch-22 that the Minister can regulate ranges by reference to competency but that they are to be used by persons without competency. My amendment suggests that "Regulations under subsection (13) insofar as they determine standards by reference to subsection (14)(vi) shall have due regard to the need for shooting ranges to be used by persons who are in the process of acquiring competency in the use of firearms", so there is not a catch-22 in that one must be competent to use a range even though one must get that competency by using a range. I do not know the import of the Minister's amendment in this regard.

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