Vol. 571 No. 1
1203 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the present situation whereby a person wishing to purchase a firearm need only produce a gun licence but need not show identification, there being no requirement for the vendor to keep a detailed record of firearms sales; and if he has plans to change this situation. [20624/03]
I wish to inform the Deputy that under the Firearms Acts 1925 to 2000 it shall not be lawful for any person to have in their possession, use, or carry any firearm or ammunition save in so far as such possession, use, or carriage is authorised by a firearm certificate granted under the Firearms Acts. In accordance with these Acts, the power to grant or refuse to grant a firearm certificate in this State is vested in the local Superintendent of the Garda Síochána, and I have no statutory function in the matter.
Under section 10 of the Firearms Act 1925, an obligation is placed on a purchaser to produce a firearm certificate to a registered firearms dealer authorising him to purchase or hire such firearm or ammunition. Before such a firearm certificate is granted to any person, a superintendent of the Garda Síochána shall be satisfied that the person (a) has a good reason for requiring the firearm in respect of which the certificate is applied for, and (b) can be permitted to have in his possession, use, and carry a firearm or ammunition without danger to the public safety or to the peace, and (c) is not a person declared by the Firearms Acts, to be disentitled to hold a firearm certificate.
In accordance with section 12 of the Firearms Act 1925 and section 3(2) of Statutory Instrument number 362 of 1993, European Communities (Acquisition and Possession of Weapons and Ammunition) Regulations, a registered firearms dealer is required to keep a register of all purchases, hirings, sales, repairs, and other transactions of or in relation to firearms or ammunition made by him and is required to keep this register for a period of five years after the date of the transaction even if he has ceased his activity as a registered firearms dealer.
