Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister is massaging the figures. It is easy to highlight one year. The fact is that last year we had the highest number of murders caused by illegal firearms in the history of the State.

On a specific matter, it appears many of these illegal weapons were used by the provisional IRA in Northern Ireland in the past. What steps is the Minister taking to intervene in terms of the illegal importation of weapons formerly used in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by members of the republican movement in particular?

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