John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senators Mullen, Regan and O'Donovan for their specific contributions. I hope I can be equally specific in my response. I will start by referring to the points raised by Senator Mullen. I wish to put on record that I am a pacifist also. I want to be clear, however, that I do not think that issue comes into it. I hasten to add that I am not a killjoy either, which was the word used by Senator O'Donovan. I recognise from the three Senators' contributions that they are on the side of law and order.

I do not believe the legislation represents a sledgehammer to crack a nut, or that it is an attempt to target specific groups. I am not too sure about the Senators' understanding of what happened at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting. I can confirm, as Senator O'Donovan did a few minutes ago, that a number of people in our party have reservations. Those reservations were quite properly articulated at our parliamentary party meeting, the same as at other party meetings. The Minister went on to explain the issues concerning that. I do not accept that the Bill is being sloppy with civil liberties. I will try to separate the notion that paintball and this activity are much the same because I do not think so.

I can understand Senator Regan's opening comment whereby he is trying to understand the rationale of the legislation. I take the point concerning the proportionality of the response and whether there is an easier way. The point has been made in several debates in the Lower House concerning the possibility of greater regulation. I note that in this House, as in the Dáil, the question was raised as to whether the Minister was acting on Garda advice. Apparently, in other European jurisdictions the procedure has grown away from its military roots.

I do not believe the legislation is rushed, nor do I believe that practical shooting is a sport. Senator Mullen asked if the Minister had visited such centres. I can confirm that gardaí and officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform have on occasion visited ranges. In addition, they have met the representatives of the Irish Practical Shooting Association on a number of occasions. The shooting bodies of the firearms consultative panel have all disowned practical shooting. The Senator referred to some correspondence and quoted certain experts so I will do the same to see if we can come to a position of understanding.

The US Practical Shooting Association still uses human-shaped targets. They are the ones who have initiated the terminology of extreme sports, so that is where it is derived from. Senator O'Donovan wondered about the advice of the Garda Síochána and whether the sport has been hijacked by groups outside the jurisdiction. I am not too sure if that has been the basis of the thinking behind the Bill, however. The amendments tabled by Senators Regan and Mullen would in effect legalise the activity of practical shooting, which the Minister is seeking to prohibit. That is the Minister's point.