Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) concerning licensed firearm certificate holders; and the number of those certificate holders who have been charged under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990. [18495/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The issues raised in the Deputy's correspondence relate to amendments being proposed to the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 2000 in the context of the Criminal Justice Bill, 2004 which is currently before the House. I have already responded to all of the issues raised by the Deputy in the course of the Committee Stage of the Bill on 26 April 2006 and 3 May 2006.

With regard to persons charged with offences under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990 I am informed by the Garda authorities that since the computerisation of the firearms licensing system in January, 2000 their records show that proceedings have been brought against 8,265 licensed firearm certificate holders for offences under that Act. Prior to that date the firearms licensing system was a manual system and the information sought by the Deputy for the years prior to 2000 could only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.