According to existing regulations dating back to 1925, if you can believe that, you’d need a firearms licence to own and use pepper spray devices for self defense, but since you can’t get one, defending yourself is out of the question.
The 1925 Firearms Act prohibits the ‘manufacturing, possession, or sale of weapons discharging noxious liquids.’
And Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald stood firm on this last week, confirming that there are no plans for the common people to be armed with pepper spray devices, for their own good.
Indeed, if you get caught carrying pepper spray, you could end up staying under State supervision for up to five years, though you’d probably just get a fine.