CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether representations have been made to the Irish Government by the constabulary authorities pointing to the difficulties and dangers affecting the maintenance of the public peace that have already arisen, and are likely to continue, consequent on the absence of restrictions in respect to the acquisition of firearms in Ireland; and will he ascertain from these authorities whether the provisions of the English Pistols Act of 1903 are suitable to the conditions prevailing in Ireland.
§ MR. BIRRELLFor the reasons stated in reply to the last Question, I must decline to state what representations, if any, have been made to the Irish Government by the constabulary authorities upon the subject of the present Question. I have already stated that the Government are considering the advisability of introducing legislation for Ireland upon the lines of the English Pistols Act of of 1903, but I am not at present in a position to make any definite statement on the subject.