The Garda Commissioner has dismissed suggestions from middle ranking Gardaí that there are not enough armed officers.
The annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in Co. Wexford will debate a motion later, calling for an increase in the number of licences being issued.
The association says the level of officers trained to use weapons in every division has dropped.
A-G-S-I General Secretary Joe Dirwan says more powerful firearms, aside from handguns, are needed: