Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

The Minister assumes that the garda issuing the certificate would know if there were a reason, based on medical grounds, why the applicant should not receive it. If the applicant is not well known to the garda how can he or she make such a decision?

If it is left up to applicants to provide their medical histories, as the legislation seems to allow, an individual may not be inclined to provide such information. If a psychologically disturbed individual commits a serious offence using a firearm there is no point in asking why he or she was issued with a certificate. People should provide a medical certificate at the outset to show they are medically fit to hold a firearm. The amendment would address this if it were accepted.