Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

We have now established that other EU member states recognise this sport and do not seek to ban or criminalise it. That tells us a good deal about the approach of the Minister. There is no objective justification for this measure. In a context of 233,000 firearms in the country, a small proportion of which are revolvers or pistols, it seems entirely disproportionate. The Bill seeks to introduce a comprehensive and very strict regulatory and licensing regime for firearms. To pick out one sport and victimise the people involved in it when there is European recognition of it seems rather perverse.

Senator Mullen referred to members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in this House and indicated they do not really agree with the Minister. If we continue to analyse the situation we might be led to believe that no one in the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, apart from the Minister, believes in banning this sport. However, that gets us nowhere because everyone can play that game. I believe the Minister of State, in his presentation, was mincing his words somewhat in terms of his conviction on this issue, but then again, if only the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform would listen to Members of the parliamentary party, things would be all right and this particular section of the Bill could be deleted. In a way it is somewhat cynical. The fact is the Minister, with the full force of Government, is pursuing this approach. It is discriminatory and not objectively based. I have suggested in my amendment that discretion should be left to the Minister to regulate the sport by means of a statutory instrument if he deems fit. The reservation should be allowed in the legislation to allow the Minister to be able to revisit the issue following consultation and review on foot of international best practice in this area.

The measure is discriminatory and disproportionate in the context of the overall legislation and of proper regulation and a proper licensing regime with no inconsistencies between the awarding of licences for firearms. Within that context, to pick on this particular sport without any hard facts to justify the action seems discriminatory and disproportionate and leaves the Bill open to legal challenge. I do not wish to speak further on the issue because the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, is set on rejecting any amendments of this or any type to any legislation that he brings before this House. Once he has made up his mind on an issue he is not for turning, notwithstanding any submissions, observations or insights which may emanate from a debate in this House or the Lower House.