Results 12,661-12,680 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: I welcome Mr. Healy to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and thank him for his submission. I was a bit taken aback with regard to Mr. Healy's submission. Is he saying that there are 200,436 guns out there under the firearms certificates issued and that out in the public at the moment there are over 200,000 firearms of which 873 are restricted?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: I find that figure extraordinarily high for a small country. Would that be correct?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: The other figure that jumps out at me is that of 1,683 handguns. Looking at it objectively, I would say that is very high. What kind of people would have those handguns? Why would a person in broader society want a handgun, except perhaps if a person needed protection or is threatened by someone or something?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: Mr. Healy says in his submission that the Garda Commissioner in 2013 observed the risk about the availability of these large calibre weapons. Mr. Healy used two examples, the one in Hungerford and the massacre in Norway. In the situation in Norway, a licensed firearm was used.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: In the situation in England, the prohibition came in after the tragedy. These are two classic examples of needing stronger regulation and prohibition to prevent instances such as this happening. How does Mr. Healy respond to this from a Garda point of view?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: Mr. Healy also states in his submission that the majority of certified farmers are of impeccable character and integrity. I have an issue about access to firearms. Sometimes a small trivial issue, because they have access to firearms, can lead to a worse situation. One might have an innocent farmer with a shotgun who has a row with a neighbour over land or cattle or a fence. All of a...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: I do not understand the demand to license, for example, centre-fire semi-automatic rifles because ordinary members of the public do not have such weapons. Indeed, I do not know why anyone would want such a weapon. I support the Garda Commissioner's view in terms of prohibiting the licensing of those kinds of weapons.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: I hope he did not get his licence back.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Firearms Licences: Working Group on the Review of Firearms Licensing (17 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: That is the kind of situation that drives people crazy.
- Other Questions: Organic Farming Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: Hear, hear.
- Other Questions: Organic Farming Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: The Minister can be like Santa Claus.
- Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: Hear, hear.
- Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to this legislation. I warmly welcome the debate, as it gives Deputies an opportunity to examine the finances of the State and how taxpayers' money can be most effectively spent. Sometimes an impression is given that certain groups, specifically poorer sections of society, do not contribute. This idea is wrong and should be hit on the head in...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: There is not one on Irish Water.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: We could bring them in on Christmas Eve.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: What about voting rights? The Tánaiste is not answering the question. She is waffling.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: The Tánaiste did not answer the question.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: Another Labour Party policy has been scrapped.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: And high rents.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2014)
Finian McGrath: Members know what the problem is. What will the Tánaiste do about it?