Vol. 544 No. 3
216 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence the actions taken regarding old but operable weaponry which has been replaced by updated models; if these weapons are decommissioned or sold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28901/01]
In the majority of cases old but operable weaponry is decommissioned by the Defence Forces as in the cases of the Gustaf submachine gun and the 81mm mortar weapon systems. In a rare number of cases, weaponry of this nature, that is, old but operable, is sold to reputable arms companies. The Lee Enfield rifles, which were surplus to Defence Forces requirements and had been superseded by more modern weapons, were sold to a customer in the United States of America in 1996 and 1997 for hunting, sporting and collection and decoration purposes.
