Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2025
555. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if he or his Department were aware of the servicing and repair of privately owned firearms being undertaken by Garda armourer personnel attached to the Garda firearms stores section in 2018, where such firearms were belonging to a hunt and pony club based in the Kildare area and where the cost of such servicing and repair was defrayed by public funds. [6044/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra556. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if his Department approved the purchase and importation of firearm component parts into the State as contained in Importation licence J 11 2018. [6045/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra557. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if he was informed by the Garda Commissioner, in line with the commissioners statutory obligations under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 that the firearm component parts contained in Importation licence J 11 2018 related to the service and repair of privately owned firearms belonging to a hunt and pony club rather than official Garda firearms. [6046/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra583. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice if his office was made aware of hundreds of non-official, non-Garda firearms being discarded by An Garda Síochána’s firearms stores section in a poorly secured steel container within the confines of Garda Headquarters prior to the Garda firearms stores section being transferred under the management of the Garda National Technical Bureau in September 2019. [6350/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 555, 556, 557 and 583 together.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes all operational matters, such as the handling, service and repair of firearms. As Minister I have no role in these matters.
The Department of Justice was made aware of matters related to those raised by the Deputy through correspondence received in August 2020. As that correspondence is subject to an investigation, I am not in a position to comment in detail but will set out the facts available.
The Firearms Unit in the Department of Justice processes applications for all importation licences of firearms and ammunition and export licences to EU Member States. Individuals apply for an import license under Section 17(1) of the Firearms Act 1925-2023 and An Garda Síochána apply under Section 17(8). The import licence referred to by the Deputy was processed and issued by the Department in July 2018. I have not received a section 41 in relation to these matters.
