Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Finance if the increases in firearms licence fees provided for in the Finance Act 2007 were recommended by the Department of Justice. Equality and Law Reform; if other submissions were considered by him in determining the rate of increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14618/07]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the scale of increase in firearm licence fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14769/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has received correspondence in relation to firearms licence fees; his plans to address this issue in early course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14824/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 249, 254 and 255 together.

At the request of the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform, the Finance Act 2007 provided for new three-year rates for Firearm Certificates and for registration duties for Firearm Dealers to replace the existing annual rates and the introduction of four new categories of certificate/authorisation/licence. This move follows provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which require that firearm certificates and firearms dealers registrations will be renewable every 3 years from the date of issue/registration. The administration of firearm certificates is dealt with by the Garda Síochána with the excise duty collected being remitted to the Revenue Commissioners.

The rationale for moving from an annual to a three-year lifespan for these certificates/ registrations is primarily to free up Garda time and resources. Because there are 170,000 registered firearms in circulation, currently there is considerable time spent in ensuring compliance in this area. These changes come into effect on 31 December 2007.

Excise duty rates on firearm certificates and firearms dealer registrations were last increased in the Finance Act 1992 and consequently it was deemed appropriate that they be adjusted to take account of CPI increases since then. Therefore the new rates take account of i) the fact that the new rates now covers three years rather than one year, and ii) inflation since 1992 (i.e. 15 years). My Department has received a number of representations with respect to these changes.