Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 7, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:

"(2) A preclearance officer may not be in possession of a firearm in the course of exercising any function under this Act.".

The purpose of the amendment is to make it clear that the officials from the United States of America must be unarmed. On Committee Stage I welcomed the statement from the Minister that only Irish legislation would apply to the operation of the joint agreement between Ireland and the US on preclearance. It is important, therefore, that every possible contentious issue is clearly referred to in the legislation and covered to the satisfaction of the Irish people. I do not believe the Irish people would wish the US preclearance officers to be armed.

The United States Customs and Border Protection, since its inception in 1924 when it comprised volunteers from the Texas Rangers, has always been an armed force. It is important to deal with that and prevent the possibility that its members could be armed in this country.