Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures he has taken to ensure that any non-lethal weapons acquired by his Department are consistent with international human rights standards, particularly the UN basic principles on the use of force and firearms, before any decision on deployment is made. [21093/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government noted, on 19 November 2002, my proposal to authorise the introduction of three "less than lethal" devices for use by the Garda emergency response unit where this is necessary to avoid the use of firearms. The use of these "less than lethal" devices is restricted to the emergency response unit.

Guidelines on the use of authorised less lethal weapons by the Garda Síochána are constantly under review to reflect operational and technological developments, and best international practice, in the area of less lethal weapons.