rrpc wrote: »

Apart from the fact that nothing we're doing at the moment is actually an Olympic event.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe: The Garda has a number of strategic goals in the area of firearms and drugs. It is seeking a 5% increase in the number of seizures of drugs and has exceeded that by up to 27%. The Garda was seeking a reduction in incidents involving the use of firearms, but there has been a substantial increase instead. Deputy Deasy recently inquired about an unco-ordinated inconsistent approach in the licensing of firearms across the country. I am not sure if it is done on a divisional or district basis. Apparently it has led to an increase in the licensing of such handguns from approximately 300 to 1,800 in the past four years. There are great discrepancies across areas. In some instances it apparently involves not just air pistols but serious weaponry like Glock and Sig Sauer guns. Has the Garda Commissioner taken a grip of that issue?

Mr. Fachtna Murphy: I have a handle on it and my officials are working with Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform officials on dealing with that issue, which I consider a very serious issue. There are approximately 1,800 licensed handguns in this jurisdiction. The Deputy might recall that during the Troubles in Northern Ireland right from a Government decision in 1972, there was literally no licensing of any firearm in excess of .22 calibre. The issue about which the Deputy speaks is the licensing authority, which is essentially the local superintendent. The person who has absolute charge of licensing is the local superintendent, subject, of course, to the courts. The court decided that the Garda Commissioner of the day could not issue guidelines or directions to superintendents, and that every superintendent had to deal with each case on its own merits. When the Government order was lifted some years ago, opportunities arose for the licensing of handguns. Some 1,800 handguns are licensed at present. Superintendents have made objections in court in many cases. The courts have overturned that. Essentially, it seems to me that the calibre of the firearm was no longer an issue. The issue at stake was the suitability and character of the individual who was applying for the firearms licence. If Deputy Jim O’Keeffe applied for a licence, we could almost be guaranteed that he would be able to get a licence for a fairly significant firearm. That is the position we - the State - have been in. Perhaps Mr. Flahive will comment on this matter. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and his officials have been actively involved in putting together and enacting the legislation. As I understand it, the legislation is already on the Statute Book, but it has not been enacted. The Minister and his officials are putting together a regime that will give the Garda Commissioner the authority to issue guidelines and ensure consistency. Newspapers throughout the country have reported on the many cases which have been taken against individual superintendents, and the strong objections which have been made by the superintendents in such cases. I am striving for consistency within that regime throughout the country. It is an issue for us all.

Chairman: Absolutely.

Mr. Fachtna Murphy: On the one hand, we have to license Glock pistols, but on the other hand, we are seizing Glock pistols from criminals who are using them to kill people around the country. This issue is being addressed as a matter of urgency. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has spoken to me about it on many occasions. Along with his departmental officials, he is working hard in this respect.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe: It is a pretty horrific situation, especially in light of the present circumstances in which guns are being stolen and used for dreadful and heinous crimes. In light of court decisions, is primary or secondary legislation, such as regulation, needed to give the Garda the powers it needs?

Chairman: The Deputy is getting into policy areas.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe: Okay.

Mr. Fachtna Murphy: I am not in a position to comment on future legislation.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe: I am not trying to embarrass the Garda Commissioner in any way. I am merely trying to get the message out there. If something can be done by means of legislation, then that legislation has to be provided.

Mr. Fachtna Murphy: As the Garda Commissioner, I am focused on that issue. The Minister, who is not present, is also focused on it. We have discussed it at length. There is an issue with the licensing of firearms. There have been some heartening signs from the courts. I do not want to go into the recent decision made by Mr. Justice Charlton, because High Court decisions can be and have been appealed to the Supreme Court. These matters are still before the courts. There have been some heartening signs from the courts of a change in attitude with respect to the licensing of deadly weapons.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe: I will leave it in the Garda Commissioner’s hands.

Chairman: When the Commissioner said he would give a licence to Deputy Jim O’Keeffe, I hope he meant to say he would give the same facility to Deputy Sheehan. That is the biggest concern I have.

Mr. Fachtna Murphy: I would have no problem with giving a licence to the Chairman.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe: Now that my name has been mentioned, perhaps I should mention that I may be the only member present with some experience in this regard. Some years ago, I took over the office of the late Jasper Travers Wolfe, who was the crown solicitor during the Troubles of the 1920s. When I searched his desk, which I occupied for a number of years, I found a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver in it. I went up to the local sergeant and asked him what in the name of God I should do with it. This happened a long time ago - at the height of the Troubles of more recent years. I handed it in. I have a record of it. The only gun I have ever had was one I briefly acquired by chance from Jasper Travers Wolfe.

Chairman: I assume that the main concern of the Garda relates to unlicensed guns. What is the ratio of the use of unlicensed guns in crimes to the use of licensed guns, which have been stolen, in crimes?

Mr. Fachtna Murphy: I do not have that ratio. In 2007, the Garda seized approximately 860 firearms.

Chairman: Were the firearms illegally held?

Mr. Fachtna Murphy: Yes. Seventy of the firearms were seized in the Limerick division alone. In 2006, we seized 80 illegally held firearms in the Limerick division. The rate of seizure to date this year is running roughly parallel to the figure for 2007. I do not have the exact figure. Firearms represent a big issue for the Garda as it enforces the law in this jurisdiction. I established the organised crime unit on a permanent footing earlier this year to deal with the firearms issues that threaten our society.

Chairman: I will move on to the more mundane issue of traffic fines.

Target shooters not to blame for ‘hate emails’

I REFER to your report headlined “TDs receive ‘hate emails’ after gun debate” (November 2).

As one of those who has sent emails to Fine Gael deputy John Deasy, I would be very concerned if abusive emails have been sent to him or to his party colleague Olivia Mitchell TD with whom I have also corresponded.

The responsible target shooting community in this country is not to blame for the emails complained of by Mr Deasy.

It should be noted also that he has not responded to any of the emails I have sent him, even though some of the points I made have been borne out by garda spokespersons in the Wexford division.

Mr Deasy has also been advised by his party leader to engage with the target shooting community in order to acquaint himself properly with the situation. To the best of my knowledge (and my unacknowledged emails are testament to this), he has not heeded that request. I have endeavoured at all times to bring reason and balance to this debate, but Mr Deasy appears to be unable or unwilling to enter into discussion on the subject.

I regret that he wishes to take this attitude, but would never stoop to insult or abuse in an effort to get my point across. Other members of his frontbench have adopted a different attitude, as has the secretariat of the Committee of Public Accounts who will be bringing my points to the attention of that committee.

Kealan Symes
Vice-Chairman
National Target Shooting Association

rrpc wrote: »

Where? And don't say 'in the newspapers' because that's been proven to be very dodgy ground.

I've spoken to him myself and he has said nothing of the sort. He has been completely supportive.

Sparks wrote: »

From the Examiner:

Vegeta wrote: »

Here

Now I agree the papers have proven themselves to be brutal but it seems he was one of the first people to throw this type of talk around.



Its easy to be supportive when someone else is the bad guy.

Now if the guy has spoken to you and sees things a little differently now, well then I respect the guy for being open to logical reasonable debate.

My respect will soar for him if he comes out in public and states he thinks Ahern is in the wrong and he's playing a smoke and mirrors game.

JOHN O'MAHONY TD wrote: »

I believe the law should be reviewed to ensure consistency among superintendents and the courts as regards the criteria for the issue of licences.