Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
1054. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the proposals that are being mooted for an organisation (details supplied); if new regulations are being introduced; if so, when these regulations will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12440/23]
View answer1076. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice the steps his Department is taking to ensure that shooting sports are not severely handicapped given the Firearms Expert Committee suggestion for stricter guidelines; and the measures that will allow law-abiding competition shooters to continue with their sport. [13174/23]
View answer1085. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice if firearm certificates should be conditioned to specify the locations where the firearms can be used and whether firearms certificates should be conditioned to limit the use of the firearm to the purpose for which the firearms certificate was sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13288/23]
View answer1095. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the proposals by the Firearm Expert Committee to impose additional conditions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13593/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1054, 1076, 1085 and 1095 together.
I propose to take PQs 12440/23, 13174/23, 13288/23 and 13593/23 together.
I can inform the Deputies, as noted in the published reports, that two of the Firearms Expert Committee's (FEC) terms of reference were discussed as agenda items at the Committee's sixth and seventh meetings. These were:
- To consider whether firearms certificates should be conditioned to specify the locations where the firearm may be used,
- To consider whether firearms certificates should be conditioned to limit the use of the firearm to the purpose for which the firearms certificate was sought.
These items were part of the original terms of reference approved in October 2021 and have been well publicised since the process to establish the FEC commenced.
It is well established in national and EU law (Section 4(2)(a) of the Firearms Act 1925, as amended, and Article 6(1) of the Firearms Directive) that applicants for firearms licences shall have ‘good reason/cause’ for acquiring and possessing a firearm. In addition, Article 6(2) of the Firearms Directive requires that EU Member States have in place monitoring systems to ensure that the conditions of authorisation set by national law are met throughout the duration of the authorisation (i.e. licence) of any firearm.
The two terms of reference cited arise from the question of whether the ‘good reason/cause’ stated in an application for a firearm certificate would continue to be valid if the firearm is used at a location or for a purpose other than those stated when setting out ‘good reason/cause’, and whether this would be compliant with the Firearms Act and Firearms Directive.
As the FEC has not yet submitted its reports, it would not be appropriate to pre-empt any of its recommendations. In any case, the role of the FEC is to make recommendations to me for subsequent consideration. Any policy decisions arising from any of the recommendations would of course be subject to prior consultation with stakeholders.
