The Minister for Justice has promised to "come to a firm decision" by midsummer on a review of the ban on sports marksmen importing certain firearms for competition.
Mr McDowell agreed the current situation was "unduly conservative" and political direction was needed.
He also confessed that he had met some of the interested groups more than a year ago and promised them early action, but he had been "blown of course" on the issue.
Fine Gael's justice spokesman said it was "officialdom gone mad on drugs" that a European champion, Nicholas Flood, who "poses no threat to national security", had not been allowed a licence for a firearm of a certain calibre.
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The Minister said "a commonsense approach" would make for a more satisfactory situation.