asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that rifles and ammunition issued to former members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil, who have since left this country, remain uncollected for as long as six months and during this period can easily be secured by unauthorised persons with resultant danger to all law-abiding citizens, and if he will take steps to see that more control is established.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Uncollected Rifles and Ammunition.
Effective members of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil may be permitted to keep rifles in their homes. Ammunition is not issued to individual members of an fórsa. Rifles are collected as soon as possible from members who are granted permission to reside outside the country or who are placed on the non-effective list. Some delay in the collection of the rifle may occur in cases where a member leaves the country without prior permission and where his unit does not become aware of his absence for some time.
Proposals in regard to the more effective control of rifles on issue to members of an fórsa are under consideration.
Arising out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, is it not correct to say that members of the force are not allowed to go to England until they hand up all their rifles?
Of course, a member may go without permission.
He has to go to the labour exchange.
Is it not correct to say that cases have occurred where some of this personnel have gone away to England without notification? It is not necessary that they should be ordinary workers who have to go to the labour exchanges.
They cannot get a permit unless they have permission.