asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that great dissatisfaction exists in the Kanturk district among gun-licence holders and dealers in cartridges because the permits to buy cartridges allow purchases of tens and fifteens, while cartridges are stocked in cases of twentyfive, thus causing great inconvenience to dealers who must sell cartridges loose; and, if so, if he will issue an order to the Gárda Síochána to grant permits for the purchase of cartridges only in twenty-fives, or multiples of twenty-five.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SPORTING AMMUNITION (SYSTEM OF SALE).
I am not aware that great dissatisfaction exists in the Kanturk district because permits to buy cartridges are limited to purchases of tens and fifteens. In fact the only registered dealer in Kanturk has been approached by the Gárda Síochána and stated that he finds no inconvenience in supplying cartridges in these quantities. The Gárda Síochána have information that poaching is carried on on a large scale in the neighbourhood, and accordingly have limited the number of cartridges that may be held at one time by persons in possession of firearm certificates which do not authorise the shooting of game.
Is the Minister aware that recently a dealer in Millstreet was summoned for issuing packets of 25 cartridges to a man who had a permit for 15; that prior to that he had been summoned on a similar count by the Inspector of the Gárda Síochána of Macroom, that in the District Court the Inspector at Macroom had stated that he in future would issue permits for 25 or multiples of 25; that this particular dealer, acting on the promise of the Inspector at Macroom, sold 25 to a man who had a permit for 15; that permit was got from the Gárda Síochána at Kanturk; the Gárda Síochána at Kanturk summoned the man, and the Gárda at Macroom were afterwards compelled to summon the dealer, and that there has been a lot of dissatisfaction as a result?
I am not aware of all the Deputy has stated, but I am aware that a certain dealer at Millstreet complained of inconvenience caused by cartridges being sold in the particular quantity stated. He was asked to send along a list of customers so that the inconvenience could be inquired into with a view to seeing if cartridges could be supplied in the numbers requested, and the list has not so far been received.
Is it news to the Minister that in the Kanturk area it is only recently a change has been made—that up to a couple of months ago permits were issued for the purchase of cartridges in twenty-fives, but recently a change was made, for what reason nobody knows?
I was not aware of how recently the change was made, but I am aware of the fact that the only dealer in Kanturk states that no-inconvenience was caused by the supply of cartridges in these particular numbers.
Does this restriction only apply to Kanturk?
I cannot say—I am afraid that question will have to be addressed on another occasion to the Minister for Justice.