Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

If there are reservations, more substance should be provided because serious allegations have been made to the Minister by, I presume, senior Garda sources as a result of intelligence gathering operations and so forth. If that is the case, someone should outline the source of the information, whether the activity in question has occurred regularly or only once and what action can be taken to clamp down on it.

If people want to train in the use of illegal weapons or acquire such weapons, they can buy a Glock pistol for €150 on the street, as a Garda source in Dublin has informed me. People can go underground and train in woods and remote areas, as has been done in the past. It is a harsh measure that can severely curtail certain recreational clubs, such as those for practical dynamic shooting. Some of them may be put out of business so I have reservations. Unfortunately, however, under the Whips system if a vote is called I will be obliged to concur. Nonetheless, it is important for people on this side of the House to express their concerns and reservations if we feel that measures are going over the top. On this occasion I feel we may be going too far with this measure in that it may not have the desired effect that legislators, the Minister and the Garda Síochána intended.