Derek McDowell (Labour)

Many people in rural Ireland have 15 year old sons with whom they want to go shooting pigeon, etc., on their lands. They know the best way to get their sons to have a safe and educated attitude to the use of firearms is to bring them out, show them how it is done, teach them about breaking the weapon and inform them about safety procedures at an age when they are teachable. It is more difficult to educate young fellows at the age of 18, when they have decided they know it all and do not need training of any kind. Many farmers throughout Ireland have been educating their children in this manner for years. Those who think 15 year olds have not been shooting rabbits or pigeons on Irish farms are codding themselves. This section of the Bill merely regulates such activity. The notion that a farmer would never allow his son to take a shot at a pigeon while they are out in the field together is somewhat unrealistic. We are providing a legal basis for that practice. I could have restricted this provision to those who engage in competitive shooting and pretended I did not want to know about what happens on farms, but I was keen to put in place a fair and safe system whereby responsible farmers can teach their sons and daughters about the use of firearms. While it is much more likely to be sons who are taught in this way, I do not know why I kept referring to sons only because there are some very good markswomen in this country. We should deal with realities rather than with urban myths. I say that from a Ranelagh perspective as much as from a Tallaght or Bohernabreena perspective. The notion that a farmer who goes out on his land with his 15 year old son to shoot some pigeon should be deemed to be committing a serious offence if he allows his son to——