§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Orr, R.M., Dungarvan, has refused to issue a gun licence to Mr. Edmond Power, who is farmer and manager of a co-operative creamery; whether the refusal is based on the fact that the applicant was convicted some 1029 time ago for trespass in pursuit of game; and whether, seeing that the duty of a resident magistrate, under the Peace Preservation Act, is confined to the consideration as to whether the applicant may or may not use the gun for offences which have no concern with the preservation of game, he will direct the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the several cases in which Mr. Orr has refused applications for gun licences, on the ground that the applicants, in his view, would be likely to shoot game without having previously obtained a game licence.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I understand that it is the fact that Mr. Orr has declined to grant to Mr. Power a licence to carry firearms. The power of issuing such licences is vested in the resident magistrate of the district. It would be contrary to practice and undesirable to state grounds for refusal in a particular case. Mr. Orr, however, informs me that he has never refused an application upon the ground that the applicant would be likely to shoot game without having previously obtained a game licence. I am not aware of any reason for bringing the matter to the notice of the Lord Chancellor.