John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in commending Deputy O'Callaghan for bringing this legislation forward. I wish to share with the House some correspondence that I entered into with the Garda Commissioner's office on foot of the Christchurch, New Zealand massacre regarding the use of semi-automatic weapons.

I put down a few questions and got comprehensive replies. I asked initially when legislation was last introduced concerning firearms and, given it has been ten years, it is timely we are looking at these offensive weapons. I again commend my colleague on allowing us the opportunity to do this.

One of the questions I asked was how many semi-automatic centre-fire rifles - that is, larger calibre, military-style rifles - are currently licensed in this jurisdiction and how many semi-automatic rifles in smaller calibres such as .22 are currently licensed. I was told that a new category of firearms certificate, namely, a restricted firearms certificate, was introduced in the legislation in 2009. Of the approximately 53,408 rifles currently licensed in the State as of May this year, only 263 fall into the restricted category. The majority of these 263 restricted rifles are predominantly licensed for the purpose of recreational target practice at authorised shooting ranges, which are very strictly regulated. The point is that these are the types of weapons that were used in the Christchurch attacks in New Zealand. As I said, the majority of these 263 restricted rifles are licensed for the purposes of recreational target practice. However, I am told these firearms are not kept or stored in clubs and the individual owner brings these rifles to the clubs. For the remainder of the time, they are kept in the private possession of the individual owner. This is exactly what happened in Christchurch. They are free to access them at any time, as was the case with the perpetrator of the New Zealand assault. They are military-style, high-capacity, semi-automatic weapons and have no real application in a sporting sense. While it may seem a small figure, there are more than 260 of them in the hands of individuals in Ireland. I believe they should not be just regulated or restricted; they should be banned.

The final question I asked was in regard to whether gun licence holders have to undergo any form of mental health vetting or Garda vetting prior to being licensed and, if so, what is the nature of such vetting. The Minister of State might clarify that point. The general answer I get is that each application for a firearms certificate is considered on its individual merits by an issuing person, so there does not seem to be any great series of loops a person who has one of these has to go through. That ought to be looked at, possibly in the context of this Bill and, if necessary, there should be further restrictions or tightening. It seems to be at the discretion of the issuing person involved. The Minister might take on board some of those suggestions.

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