Jim McDaid (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)

It has already been dealt with in the Bill. While I accept there is merit in the proposal, I remind the House that the Bill provides through section 38 for the establishment of a comprehensive register of licences by the commission and for the continuation of the existing registers held by the Garda and local authorities. Any attempt by such a person to obtain a licence will necessitate all these checks. The checks already exist in the register held by local authorities and the Garda and the commission will have its own checks. There is an abundance of checking mechanisms at the disposal of the commission and they will quickly establish if a person has been disqualified under the provisions of the section.

At present it does not apply to people from another jurisdiction but, in due course, with increased co-operation between the PSNI and the Garda, records will be available and will overlap. No disqualified person from another jurisdiction will be able to come here to obtain an licence.