Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views that senior members of the Garda Representative Association have stated that the cuts could leave Ireland vulnerable to a massacre on the scale of Norway's Utoya atrocity and that officers need armed capability even if it is never used; if he will confirm that he is proposing to reduce the number of firearms available and thus cutting costs by €2.7 million a year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11759/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The carrying of firearms by Garda personnel is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. In that context the Commissioner determines the number of Garda members to whom firearms are issued without reference to either myself or my Department. The Garda authorities have indicated that at present the armed capability of Garda members is provided by District Detective Units supported by National Units. In addition, they have put in place specific arrangements to co-ordinate Garda armed response measures throughout the country. These arrangements include special responses to deal with emergency type situations. In view of the operational nature of the functions involved it would not be appropriate for me to comment in further detail on how the relevant resources might be deployed. The Garda authorities have also informed me that the armed capability of Garda members is kept under on-going review.