Vol. 462 No. 7
8 Dr. McDaid asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make inquiries, through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat or the EU, regarding the number of European firearms passes granted to members of the general public in Northern Ireland in each of the years from 1990 to 1995. [1908/96]
On my instructions, the information sought by the Deputy was requested through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat. The British authorities have responded by stating that the total number of European firearms passes issued in Northern Ireland between 1 January 1993 and 6 February 1996 is 2,050. These passes are issued in accordance with EC Directive 91/447 of 18 June 1991. As the Directive came into force in Northern Ireland on 1 January 1993, no such passes were issued for the period 1990 to 1993. The British authorities have also advised that an annual breakdown of the figures for the period 1 January 1993 to 31 December 1995 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
