asked the Minister for Defence if training in modern weapons is carried out by members of the FCA.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - FCA Training.
90.
Generally the FCA are trained in the use of the same weapons as the permanent Defence Force. There are, however, some modern rifles and machine guns on issue to the latter force which are not available to the FCA.
Would the Minister not agree that if the FCA are to be a force in the defence of the country at certain times it is necessary that they should be able to use the same type of weapons as the Army?
It is not feasible to make that arrangement.
Is it because the only modem weapons which the Army have are the ones they brought back from United Nations sessions in the Congo and Cyprus? Have the Department of Defence bought any new weapons at all?
They have bought CS gas.
There are very good reasons for this arrangement and for security reasons I am not prepared to say what they are.
The position is that no weapons were bought. They got some for nothing.
Would the Minister state if CS gas is a weapon?