Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I made the point that there will be full consultation. I have no doubt the justice committee, of which Deputy Niall Collins is a member and Deputy David Stanton is the Chairman, will do excellent work in getting to the bottom of these statistics and examining them in detail.

While it is a different issue, I have set up a working group to look at technology and An Garda Síochána. The Government has committed to upgrading the PULSE technology and I accept what the Garda Inspectorate said about it yesterday. The working group has already had several meetings to deal with the technological needs of An Garda Síochána which were clearly identified in the Garda Inspectorate report.

Up to 1,363 firearms applications were refused by the District Courts between 2009 and 2014. The court hears the evidence upon which it makes a decision. The Deputy will have heard the figures of the number of cases where a refusal has been overturned by the courts. There will be full consultation on this.

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