Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 945: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of submissions made to this Department which were sought regarding section 30 of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004; if those have been presented to the Dáil Select Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights for consideration as part of the Committee Stage of the Criminal Justice Bill 2004; if those submissions will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24763/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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When the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 was published, an invitation was issued to the general public, through the Department's website, inviting views on section 30 of the Bill. Section 30 provides for the secure custody of firearms and requires all applicants for firearms certificates to satisfy the Garda superintendent, to whom the application is made, that they have provided secure accommodation for the firearm.

My Department has received a large number of comments in response; some favour the proposal, while others oppose it. Many of the respondents refrained from commenting on section 30 of the Bill but took the opportunity to address wider issues relating to the licensing of firearms. In that regard, I have previously informed the House that I will be proposing the inclusion of further provisions in the Bill, and several of those new provisions will address some of the wider issues raised. The Bill is currently on Second Stage in the Dáil, and it is my intention to bring forward the new provisions by way of amendments to the Bill on Committee Stage.