Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I do not know why the Minister is getting so defensive here. I am merely putting to him during the Second Stage debate the representations we are getting. For example, I received a letter from a citizen - I could give the Minister his name if he wanted as I do not suspect there is any secrecy about it. He stated:

I have participated in the shooting sports since 1990, representing my country Internationally on many occasions, most recently the World Hand Gun Championships in Indonesia in 2008.

This bill will have no effect on the increase in serious crime in Ireland, as has already been acknowledged by Minister Ahern. The only persons who will be affected will be the law abiding citizens of this State. The Bill is grossly unjustified, unfair, and will not have the effect the Minister is seeking.

The banning of licenced handguns in particular is an effort to seek a solution to a problem that does not exist. Every licenced owner of a firearm in the State has been vetted by An Gardai Siochana, and in particular persons who posses hand guns.

There has been NO alarming increase in hand gun licences since 2004. The Ministers is incorrect in his extrapolation of the increase over the coming years. As a member of a shooting club with a membership of 150 persons, those of us who are interested in competing with hand guns already have a licensed hand gun. As with every new item that comes to the market, there is always an increase of acquisition in the beginning. In fact, there are far fewer licenced hand guns in the State today then there were in 1972, when hand guns were last licensed [for the reasons we know].

I must also protest in the strongest terms the comparison between Irish shooters and the situation in the United States. [The Minister made that comparison today.] There is not a "hand gun culture" among Irish shooters, as the Minister repeatedly states. If there are 1,800 Porsche cars in the country do we also have a Porsche culture? There is, however a passion for our sport. The Minister would be far more accurate in comparing us to our neighbours in the rest of the European Union. Every other EU country, bar the United Kingdom, recognise the shooting sports as a valid sport, and also recognise hand guns as valid sporting tools. Only this year both the Danish and Swedish Ministries of Justice recognised Practical Shooting as a legitimate and safe sport.

The letter continues for another page. To be honest, I know very little about it, but that is what he states. Apparently there are approximately 40 ranges around the country and he says that shooters are very serious upstanding citizens, vetted by the Garda Síochána. It is an expensive sport and they are not the kinds of chaps who leave their guns lying around. Most critically of all there is no evidence I can point to that suggests the criminal gangs that are marauding in urban parts of Ireland are sourcing their weapons from these law-abiding citizens, who are in those shooting clubs. I would like the Minister to address that issue. If he has information to the contrary, I will withdraw my opposition and happily go along with the provisions in the Bill.

The big point that really jolted me this morning when the Minister was speaking was when he said that we have a gun culture.

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