Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

The Minister would like to thank the Senator for raising this important matter. As she mentioned in her contribution, the responsibility for firearms policy and legislation rests with the Department of Justice. As issues arise or changes in EU legislation occur, the Minister and departmental officials engage with individual firearms representative organisations and other stakeholders as appropriate.

The Department of Justice also works closely with the firearms policy unit of An Garda Síochána, which is responsible for licensing firearms holders. By way of example, three regional firearms forums took place in February. They were held jointly by the Department and the firearms policy unit of An Garda Síochána. Around 20 firearms dealers attended each forum, at which updates on forthcoming legislation were presented, followed by a discussion and a question and answer session on all issues relevant to the dealers and their clients, who are the firearms holders. All three meetings were deemed to be very beneficial and informative for both the participants and the organisers.

Reform of the firearms licensing system has been under consideration by the Department of Justice for a number of years and extensive consultation has been undertaken on this issue. In 2022, a non-statutory advisory body - the firearms expert committee - was established to provide guidance on matters related to firearms licensing in the State. Following the delivery of the committee's report in March 2023, a consultation was launched online that May. This was to ensure that stakeholder organisations and their members could engage fully in this consultation process. As part of the process, the then Minister of State and departmental officials met with a number of firearms organisations.

Prior to all of this, a non-statutory forum called the firearms consultative panel, FCP, was established. The panel comprised various firearms interest groups, such as the National Association of Regional Game Councils, the Irish Country Sports Association, the National Association of Sporting Rifle and Pistol Clubs, and the IFA. The panel last met in 2019, when it is understood a breakdown in relations between some of the major firearms interest groups occurred. This meant that it was not possible for any further meetings to take place, as the Senator mentioned in her contribution, and, in effect, put the FCP into abeyance.

Notwithstanding these difficulties, it remains the intention of the Minister that any proposed changes to policy will be subject to prior consultation with firearms stakeholders. In addition, if there are any changes to EU legislation, which we are obliged to implement, all stakeholders will be informed as a matter of course.