John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not think that the chairman of the Sports Shooting Association of Ireland would make such a strong point for fear that his organisation might be next. Other bodies do not support practical shooting, and they have also made their position clear. The National Association of Sporting Rifle and Pistol Clubs have also supported the Minister's position, as has the National Target Shooting Association, which represents the groups about which we spoke a few minutes ago, the Olympic shooters, the Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, the Irish Deer Society, the Irish Gun Trade Association and the Countryside Alliance.

The prohibition on practical shooting is not an attack on shooting. The grassroots have spoken loudly and clearly, and they want practical and dynamic shooting stamped out because they are dangerous and in bad taste. It is simply not acceptable that individuals can engage in this activity with full bore handguns, rifles and shotguns. On the websites of many practical shooting clubs throughout the world, this form of shooting activity is clearly linked to self-defence and combat situations. The Minister believes that this mindset, which gives us a glimpse of the handgun culture, must be stopped in its tracks. I acknowledge Senator Regan's point that it is recognised as a sport in some European countries. I accept that it is true that such countries have involved themselves in the regulation of such activities.

It is important to address the issue of the risk to the State, which has arisen in this context. When the Minister was considering the introduction of this legislation, he relied on the advice of his departmental officials, who recently wrote to the State Claims Agency to inform it that the Department proposes to assume certain certification functions that are currently held by the Garda Síochána. The State Claims Agency examined the issue of practical shooting, which involves people running with loaded firearms, shooting from unstable platforms and engaging in various forms of potentially dangerous behaviour, purely from a risk perspective. It decided that practical shooting presents unacceptable risks to the State, as it would leave it open to potential negligence claims. When the Minister was bringing this legislation together, the agency strongly advised him that the State could not certify ranges for this activity. I assure the House that the Minister has sympathy for bone fide target shooters of Olympic calibre. That is why, following the receipt of a submission from the Irish rifle and pistol shooting association, he wrote to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Ministers are reflecting on the content of the association's complex submission, which was received at a late stage in the development of this Bill. It is not a question of agreeing that it is being rushed. The reality is that it is a complex matter. For example, it has been suggested that a person of Olympic calibre should have to serve an apprenticeship of two years, and be a member of a recognised target shooting club, before he or she can apply for a licence for a centre fire pistol.

In light of what I have said, I ask the Senators to withdraw their amendments. This legislation, which is based on sound advice from the Garda, is not being rushed. The Minister's stance is respected by many respected groups. Rather than being a killjoy measure, this is a response to concerns that have been expressed to the Minister over recent years. In particular, it forms part of his direct response to the proliferation of handguns.